BRCA2 Breast Cancer: Sue's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Sue Friedman was 33 and working as a veterinarian when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. At the time, she did not know she had signs of hereditary cancer risk. After finishing treatment, she read more about hereditary breast cancer and pursued genetic counseling. In 1997, testing showed a BRCA2 mutation, giving her a clearer explanation for risk in her family and a new direction for advocacy. Sue went on to found FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, to support people affected by hereditary breast, ovarian, and related cancers. Her work has focused on education, peer navigation, research participation, insurance coverage, and helping people avoid making complex inherited-risk decisions alone. Her story is especially important for people whose breast cancer first appears sporadic but later turns out to have a hereditary explanation. As of October 2024, Sue was a long-term breast cancer survivor and national hereditary-cancer advocate helping patients and families understand genetic risk, testing, and options for care. Her perspective connects personal survivorship with system-level change for families carrying inherited cancer risk. Her long-term advocacy also reflects how inherited-risk information can shape screening, prevention, family communication, and research priorities long after initial breast cancer treatment ends.