Baylor Dallas News

Link Between Ovarian, Breast Cancer Propells Survivors to "Torch" the Town

WHAT: Passing the Torch relay event; survivor participants will “torch the town” as they walk a leg of a relay highlighting the genetic link between ovarian and breast cancer, followed by a survivor reception in the hospital’s conference center.

WHO: Ovarian cancer and breast cancer survivors and the treatment            team at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center.

WHERE: Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas campus, beginning at the Portico driveway in front of the Sammons Tower at 3535 Worth Street. Participants will walk around the campus with police escort carrying a torch.

WHEN: 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009

WHY: September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Survivors will pass "the torch of survivorship" to increase awareness of the two cancers’ genetic link.

Background

Breast cancer and ovarian cancer often go hand-in-hand when it comes to an increased risk of developing either cancer. Their relationship is rooted in hereditary factors. Studies make it clear that women with a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer have an increased risk of developing either disease.

For many cases of breast and ovarian cancer, their partnership is rooted in two genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2. A woman’s lifetime chance of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer is greatly increased when these genes are altered, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).