IN THE UNITED STATES, APPROXIMATELY 10-20% OF OVARIAN CANCER AND 6% OF BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSES ARE CAUSED BY INHERITABLE BRCA1 AND BRCA2 MUTATIONS. OF THOSE WITH A BRCA 1 OR 2 MUTATION, THERE IS A 17-44% RISK OF DEVELOPING OVARIAN CANCER AND A 69-72% RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER BY AGE 80. SADLY, ONLY 20% OF ELIGIBLE US WOMEN HAVE UNDERGONE GENETIC TESTING. THIS SEVERE UNDER-UTILIZATION CREATES MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS TIME, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM PLACES LITTLE EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION. THEREFORE, WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO EMPOWER, EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE THOSE TOUCHED BY BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH BY SEEKING GENETIC COUNSELING.