Basser Center for BRCA

10/27/2026

We are honored and elated to announce that the Health for Him Golf Tournament, hosted by Basser Center supporter Dennis Holewinski, raised a tournament record-breaking $115,000.00 for prostate cancer research and BRCA-related cancer research at the Basser Center. Thank you to Dennis and all tournament participants for your generosity!

10/26/2026

A growing cohort of young women who learn that they have a high risk of developing breast cancer but who have not been diagnosed—many of whom call themselves “previvors”—are choosing to undergo prophylactic double mastectomies.

When new patients come to Dana Farengo Clark, MS, LCGC, a senior genetic counselor at the Abramson Cancer Center and the Basser Center for BRCA who specializes in inherited cancer syndromes such as BRCA variants, she tries to help them understand which option best aligns with their goals for each decade to come.

“As a 26-year-old woman, to think about your risk at age 80 is too much,” she said. “It’s overwhelming.”

Women's Health

10/26/2026

For younger women, a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just disrupt their day-to-day life; it also disrupts their fertility. Both chemotherapy and radiation can destroy eggs, and radiation to the pelvis can cause scarring to the uterus.

“Chemo impacts fertility, which is why before starting, all women who still desire to have biological children should be offered the opportunity for fertility preservation,” said Susan Domchek, MD, executive director of Penn Medicine's Basser Center for BRCA. “That’s critically important, and we have time to do that.”

Philadelphia Magazine

10/23/2026

Big news in The New York Times today! 📰 The Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine - Abramson Cancer Center is featured for our incredibly hopeful work happening right now in cancer vaccine research.

For so many of us, we aren't just thinking about our own health — we're also thinking about our parents, our siblings, and the future of our kids. If hereditary cancers or BRCA mutations run in your family, the conversation has always been about surveillance and risk reduction.

Basser Center Executive Director, Dr. Susan Domchek, along with Dr. Robert Vonderheide (Director of the Abramson Cancer Center), are working to change that narrative completely through cancer interception. Imagine a vaccine that trains your immune system to find and clear out mutated cells before a tumor can ever form. It’s about stopping cancer before it even starts. This is the future of preventative medicine we’ve been waiting for.

Read about this groundbreaking science and what it means for families affected by BRCA mutations 👉

Beyond melanoma, scientists are studying cancer vaccines for glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and more.

10/22/2026

“A BRCA-positive result is not a cancer diagnosis.”

When a high-risk genetic test result comes back, the immediate feeling is often absolute panic. The urge to act right away can be overwhelming. But Basser Center senior genetic counselor Dana Farengo Clark, MS, LCGC, urges patients to take a breath and pause.

"As a 26-year-old woman, to think about your risk at age 80 is too much," Dana says. "It’s overwhelming."

In a powerful new feature by Women's Health Magazine, young "previvors" are sharing their deeply personal decisions to undergo preventive double mastectomies. While surgery is the right path for some, genetic counseling is designed to help patients map out all of their options—including intensive screenings, lifestyle changes, and risk-reducing medications.

Dana's approach focuses on looking at your health goals decade by decade. Whether your priority in your 20s is nursing a child or focusing on your career, your medical roadmap should match your life milestones.

Read the inspiring stories of these women and learn how personalizing your breast health changes the conversation on cancer prevention:

As breast cancer incidence rates rise in women under 50, an increasing number of young women are choosing to undergo preventive double mastectomies.

10/20/2026

A New Era of Risk Stratification in Prostate Cancer🧬

New study results show that tumor DNA profiling could be used to identify which men with metastatic prostate cancer need aggressive treatment and those who may benefit from de-escalation. “All men with metastatic prostate cancer should be getting a biopsy of a metastatic lesion. It clearly makes prognostic difference,” said Kara Maxwell, MD, PhD, director of Basser's Men & BRCA Program.

📘:

Tumor DNA profiling could be used to identify which men with metastatic prostate cancer need aggressive treatment and those who may benefit from de-escalation.A model, trained and tested on nearly 2,500 veterans with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, found those with favorable germline p...

10/19/2026

This weekend, members of the Basser Center team celebrated a community that makes a true difference and joined the Unite For HER 14th Annual 5k Run & Walk!

We’re grateful to stand alongside and sponsor an organization making a meaningful impact in the lives of people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Thank you to everyone who came together to make this weekend so special!

10/15/2026

What if we could change the future of cancer?

Dr. Susan Domchek and her team are helping make that possible. Through research, genetic testing, and cancer interception, they’re changing how we understand and manage inherited cancer risk.

We’re working toward a future where we can do more than just treat cancer, and that future starts with the work happening today.

10/14/2026

A well-deserved honor for our fearless leader who is helping change the future of cancer care!

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Domchek, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA, on being inducted into the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania by Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro!

Dr. Domchek’s groundbreaking work has helped advance genetic testing, improve care for people with inherited cancer risk, and bring new treatment options to patients with BRCA-related cancers. Her dedication to cancer research and interception is making a difference for individuals and families today, while helping shape what’s possible for future generations.

We couldn’t be prouder to see her leadership and impact recognized with this incredible honor!👏

10/14/2026

Honored by Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro, Basser’s Executive Director Dr. Susan Domchek was recognized among a group of extraordinary women making a difference in their fields and communities.

Dr. Domchek has dedicated her career to advancing cancer research and improving care for people with inherited cancer risk. From helping establish the lifesaving benefits of risk-reducing surgery for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers to advancing new treatments for BRCA-associated cancers, her work has helped move the field forward and improve options for patients and families.

This recognition and induction into the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania is a meaningful celebration of her leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to cancer care. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with her!