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Five Lives,
Five Stories

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Fox Chase Cancer Center Risk Assessment Program, Fox Chase asked five Risk Assessment families to share their stories.

Video: Carlette Knox

Carlette’s decision to be tested for BRCA affected her four sisters as well. Three opted to be tested, with the youngest, Jasmine, testing positive at age 25.  One sister declined to go through the process.   “One of the things you learn right away is that if you test positive, you can’t let the disease consume your life,” she said.

Video: Denise Portner

"Being involved in the Family Risk Assessment Program is like having a really smart and caring group of friends."

Video: John O'Donnell

"I learned that due to the high incidence of cancer in my family, and the age that I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I had a higher than normal chance of having a mutation of my BRCA genes," John explained. Mutations of this type are usually associated with women’s health, but if he carried the mutation, his three daughters could inherit that from their father.

Video: Alan Stachura

"If you think there is a risk of cancer in your family, there probably is. The genetic counselors at Fox Chase's Risk Assessment Program provide valuable information and guidance. I recommend them to anyone with a strong family history of cancer."

Video: Meredith Swinney

Meredith gets screened regularly with mammograms and breast MRI. She has learned what it means to be a BRCA2 gene mutation carrier. She admits the process has made her feel empowered that she is in control of her future.

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Five Lives, Five Stories

The RAP Celebration Video Project is a Fox Chase Cancer Center event made with the participation of the Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons at WHYY in Philadelphia. Some participants in the Risk Assessment Program were asked to make videos telling their experience with the program at Fox Chase Cancer Center. With the assistance of editors at WHYY, these stories premiered on November 13, 2011.

"I am honored to join Fox Chase in recognizing this milestone and promoting family conversations on the issue of cancer," said Dr. Gottlieb, host of WHYY-FM's "Voices in the Family." "I look forward to sharing my own experiences, as well as learning from the journeys of the RAP families."

Mary Daly, MD, PhD, Chair of the Fox Chase Department of Clinical Genetics and the Founding Director of the Risk Assessment Program

"We are extremely proud of how far we’ve come in the last 20 years.  

"We could not have achieved any of it without our families, who are the heart and foundation of the program,” said Mary Daly, MD, PhD, Chair of the Fox Chase Department of Clinical Genetics and the Founding Director of the Risk Assessment Program, the first of its kind in the region and one of the first in the nation. "This is our opportunity to not only celebrate these families, but to look forward to what we can accomplish together."

"In the next 20 years, researchers and clinicians will continue to study the relationships between genetic, environmental and behavioral factors in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer," added Dr. Daly.  "Progress will be fueled by dialogue within our communities to spread awareness of how genetic testing can be useful and who is at risk."

Call 1-877-627-9684 for more information on Risk Assessment.