Articles about FORCE and our members
Insurers Tracking Unnecessary Testing with Myriad's BRACAnalysis Tests
Pharmacogenomics Reporter - October 30, 2009
Covers efforts by the insurance industry to track inappropriate BRCA testing.
Some at risk women chose surgery befor cancer strikes
Detroit News On Line - Detroit, Michigan - October 19, 2009
Strong piece on the choices made by BRCA women including interviews with Sue Friedman and FORCE member, Dr. Margaret Snow.
A time bomb: Tough Choices Abound
Washington Jewish Week - Washington DC - October 16,2009
Recounts hereditary stories of DC area outreach coordinator Lisa Schlager and DC FORCE members
while emphasizing importance of genetic counseling and testing in Jewish community.
Patient Group Urges HHS Panel to Push for Oversight of Dx Firms' Marketing Practices
Pharmacogenomics Reporter - October 14, 2009
Recounts testimony and recommendations from FORCE to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics Health and Society
regarding oversight of genetic testing marketing to consumers and health care providers.
Armed for battle: Area women take up fight against breast cancer
Zanesville Times Recorder - Central OH - October 13, 2009
Columbus, OH outreach coordinator Barb Riley shares her story and how she has decided to give back by becoming an outreach coordinator.
Family Ties: Testing into a whole new brand of survivorship
News 8 Austin - Austin, TX - October 10, 2009
Renee Wasserman shares her story in a piece about BRCA.
Kalamazoo Mother Overcomes Obstacle
Kalamazoo Weekly - Kalazmoo, MI - October 10, 2009
Michelle McDade talks about the impact of finding out she was BRCA and the support she received from FORCE.
What PAs should know before they refer patients to a genetic counselor
Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants - New York, NY - September 10, 2009
Cedar Park woman plans to beat cancer before it strikes, starts support group
Community Impact Newspaper - Austin,TX - September 9, 2009
Renee Wasserman calls herself a previvor. The Cedar Park resident didn't survive cancer—she plans to beat it to the punch.
Lifesaving:
Take the time to test for genetic cancer
Detroit Jewish News Online - May 28, 2009
One women's story about BRCA testing with a feature on Ellyn Davidson, Michigan Coordinator and her outreach efforts.
Rush to Genetic Testing May Not Always Be the Best Approach
Carroll County Times - Maryland - May 21, 2009
Maryland Outreach Coordinator, Leslee Gold shares her story.
Know Your Breast Cancer Risk
WBTV - Charlotte, NC - April 22, 2009
Kim Bond, Charlotte Outreach Coordinator tells her personal story.
Cheating Fate
Audrey Magazine, April - May, 2009
FORCE member Grace Talusan tells the story about BRCA and cancer in their family and discusses the challenges of hereditary cancer for people of Asian ethnicity.
The Heaviest Heart: Guilt and Genetic Disease
ABC News, March 24, 2009
Article highlighting the guilt that accompanies hereditary disease. The article features an interview with outreach coordinator and Director of Development Debbie Sokolov and her family.
Going Under the Knife to Head Off Cancer
ABC News, March 2, 2009
An article about weighing the risks of prophylactic surgeries featuring FORCE Member and coordinator Lisa Held (NYC) and Bethany Cove.
Breast Removal: The Anguish of Sophie's Choice
Times Online UK, February 23, 2009
A personal story of one women's decision to undergo a bi-lateral prophylactic mastecotmy.
The Problematic Allure of Genetic Tests
Utne Reader, February 04, 2009
Report about and overview of article written for Gene Watch by Sue Friedman about the potential concerns of direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
Spotlight on BRCA: A Filmmaker Turns The Lens on Herself
MAMM, December - January, 2009
Behind the scenes of In the Family, an overview of the film, and interviews with Joanna Rudnick and Sue Friedman.
For women with cancer gene, new surgery support
Philadelphia Inquirer, January 14, 2009
Video taped interview
CBS News, Channel 3 Philadelphia
Article and interview detailing new research about the risk reduction benefits from prophylactic surgery. Includes interview with Philadelphia FORCE outreach coordinator Sandy Cohen.
Genetic Testing May Help In Fight Against Cancer
CBS News, Channel 2, Los Angeles, January 13, 2009
Article on Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis to select embryos free of a BRCA mutation. Includes interview with FORCE member Sivan Kredow.
More Patients Experience Inadequate Genetic Testing, Advocacy Official Says
Pharmacogenomics Reporter, January 14, 2009
Interview with Sue Friedman for online genomics publication
about lack of oversight of genetic testing and lack of referral to genetics experts.
Dealing Day By Day
Jewish Exponent, November 26, 2008
Article about FORCE outreach in Philadelphia and involvement in screening of In the Family. Special focus on FORCE member and outreach coordinator, Sandy Cohen and her participation in the film.
Test Shows Risk for Breast, Ovarian Cancer
KMBC.com, Kansas City, November 20, 2008
Article about two women who tested positive for BRCA which includes information on FORCE outreach in Kansas City and a link to the FORCE website.
New cancer trial to look at genetic link
Palm Beach Post, October 16, 2008
Article on PARP Inhibitor study in South Florida for ovarian cancer patients with a BRCA mutation. Highlights FORCE showing of In The Family and includes interview with Sue Friedman.
Is It In Your Genes?
Tampa Tribune, October 11, 2008
Interviews with FORCE founder Sue Friedman, and geneticist, researcher, and FORCE board director Dr. Rebecca Sutphen.
FOCUS - Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and What Can Be Done to Stop Its Development
CET: Cincinnati Public Television, Date Aired, October 2, 2008
Interview with FORCE Cincinnati outreach coordinators, Dawn McNees and Mary Orloff, and board-certified genetic counselor, Sara Knapke, and a phone interview with Joanna Rudnick.
Genetic counseling can help identify probabilities
Wisconsin Post-Crescent, September 28, 2008
This article features the story of FORCE member Joyce Hackbarth and her family and highlights the importance of genetic counseling.
Would you have surgery to prevent cancer?
Peoria Journal Star, September 28, 2008
This article features the story of Peoria outreach coordinator and previvor, Catherine D'Souza, and chronicles the choices she made after testing positive for a BRCA mutation.
How Arizona family coped with cancer curse
Arizona Daily Star, September 28, 2008
This article about FORCE member and helpline volunteer, Betty Villegas, reports about her family's story. After testing positive for a gene mutation, Betty and her family agreed to participate in the documentary In The Family.
Better to know? Debating gene tests for kids
This article explores the issues surrounding genetic testing for BRCA in children. The article includes interviews with FORCE members Jill and Jenna Stoller, and FORCE Director Sue Friedman.
Breast Cancer Gene
33TV Dallas, September 22, 2008
View the video about genetic counseling and testing which includes an interview with FORCE member Lisa
Redman.
Spotlight on Cancer Genetics
Chicago Tribune, September 2, 2008
Article about genetic testing features interviews with founder and Executive Director, Sue Friedman, and Heather Fineman, Chicago Outreach Coordinator for FORCE and her family.
A FORCE For Change
Mainline Magazine, August 28, 2008
Article about Philadelphia Outreach Coordinators Rebecca Carr and Sandy Cohen and their efforts to raise awareness and educate others in Philadelphia about hereditary cancer and FORCE.
Film Explores Dilemmas of Genetic Screening
Wilmette Life, June 5, 2008
Article about documentary "In the Family" which highlights the difficult choices faced by producer and BRCA carrier Joanna Rudnick and the families chronicled in the film.
Breast Cancer Gene Test for Girls: Too Soon?
ABC.COM, June 5, 2008
Article presents discussion of genetic testing for BRCA in minors and provides several sides of the debate. Includes interview with Detroit FORCE outreach coordinator, Ellyn Davidson.
Do Whatever It Takes to Lower Your Risk
Women's Day, March, 2008
Heather Fineman, Chicago FORCE outreach coordinator shares how attending the 2007 FORCE conference helped her and her sister make good healthe decisions.
Breast Cancer Calendar
Smart Women Series, as appeared on WPTV, Palm Beach, Fl
January 11, 2008
FORCE staff and members meet and discuss Life is a Carnival Calendar and how it benefits women who need to make decisions about mastectomy and reconstruction.
Genetic Mutation May Be More Common in Minorities
Tampa Bay Channel 10 News, January 7, 2008
FORCE Director of Development Debbie Sokolov speaks about a new study which shows that BRCA incidence in minorities may be higher than previously thought.
Breast Cancer Gene Health Story
Susan Friedman and Geneticist and FORCE Board Member Dr. Rebecca Sutphen talk about hereditary cancer, genetic testing, and cancer risk in BRCA carriers.
Would you? Could you?
Colorado Springs Independent, November 15, 2007
Columnist and FORCE member, Jill Thomas chronicles her family history of cancer, her discovery of her BRCA mutation, and attending the first Colorado FORCE network meeting.
Leawood
woman makes a pre-emptive strike.
Kansas City Star,
Nov. 07
FORCE member and calendar model Kelly Braun's moving story about how hereditary breast cancer claimed her mother and then came after her, and about her decisions for managing her cancer risk.
You Can't Top This Calendar
The Health Show, radio show, October 21, 2007
FORCE Founder and Director Sue Friedman discusses her story, why she founded FORCE, and the Life is a Carnival Calendar
Living with the Cancer Gene
Nightline, October 11, 2007
FORCE members Susan Davis and her family discuss what it is like for a family coping with many of the family members carrying a mutation
Why Genetic Testing Can Tell You If You're at High Risk for Breast Cancer
Sue Friedman and FORCE volunteer Linee Zajic are interviewed in New Orleans in a piece about genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, reconstruction, and FORCE's Life is a Carnival calendar.
Breast Cancer Calendar Girls Give Others Hope
WFOR Channel 4, Miami, October 8, 2007
Anchor Laurie Stein interviews Sue Friedman and FORCE member Florence Schweitzer about Life is a Carnival Calendar
Breast Cancer Survivors' Calendar Sends Message That 'Your Life's Not Over'
Tampa Tribune, September 13, 2007
Article about Life is a Carnival Calendar and interviews with calendar models Sue Friedman and Marcia Petersen
Cancer Gene Lurks
Des Moines Register, August 29, 2007
FORCE member Kolleen Sogard and her family share their BRCA story
Mastectomy Patients Mark This Calendar
USA Today, August 27, 2007
Article about "Life is a Carnival", FORCEs 14-month topless calendar
A FORCE in the Fight Against Cancer
Prevention Matters, Fox Chase Cancer Center's Family Risk Assessment Program Newsletter, Fall 2007
Article about Philadelphia FORCE Outreach Coordinators Sandy Cohen and Rebecca Carr
Does Breast Cancer Run in the Family?
AAA Going Places Magazine, September/October, 2007
Article about hereditary breast cancer and about FORCE. Interviews with Sue Friedman, and FORCE Board Member and Advisory Board Member, Dr. Rebecca Sutphen
Anna's Choice
Los Angeles Times, April 13 2007; Fayetteville Observer, April 30, 2007
Article written by FORCE member and journalist, Anna Gorman chronicles her experiences as she faces her risk for hereditary cancer
(note: initially appeared in the Los Angeles Times, link is provided to article as it appearedt in Fayettevill Observer which is still available online)
Peering Into the Future
Newsweek, Dec 11, 2006
Article about genetic testing mentions FORCE and includes photo of FORCE Director of Development, Debbie Sokolov
Fighting the Odds
The Jewish Week, July 28, 2006
This article about BRCA mutations in Ashkenazi Jews includes interviews with
FORCE members Ariela Noy, Debra Stephan, and FORCE Director of Volunteer Programs,
Barbara Pfeiffer. It first appeared in The Jewish
Week but is available online
through another website.
Marcia's Journey
Biloxi Sun Herald, June, 2006
Series about FORCE member and outreach coordinator Marcia Petersen and her treatment for hereditary breast cancer
Reading Genes for Disease: Tests Reveal Answers that Can Offer Relief, or Despair
All Things Considered, February 22, 2004.
FORCE member Lauren Dubin discusses her experience with genetic testing.
Website of the Week: Facing Mastectomy, by Tessa Richards.
British Medical Journal, January 13, 2001.
The British Medical Journal suggests that doctors direct their patients to FORCE's website.
Genetic Testing for Cancer Predisposition: An Ongoing Debate
The Lancet Oncology, October 1, 2000.
This forum includes contributions written by genetics professionals, a legal scholar, and an actuary. Sue Friedman provides the perspective of a consumer of health services (free registration required).
Genetic Mutations Can Lead To Breast Cancer: Woman Starts Web Site To Educate Others About High-Risk Group.
Click10.com. October 24, 2000.
Coverage of FORCE and Sue Friedman's personal story.
Articles by Sue Friedman, Executive Director of FORCE
Investing in Cancer Prevention: Giving High-Risk Stakeholders a Place at the Table
Oncology Times, September 17, 2005
DNA, The Link Between Past and Future
CURE, Summer, 2004
Sharing the gift of medical information
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Newsletter, Summer/Fall, 2002
Making Tough Choices, Living With Fear
The Boston Globe, April 15, 2001