How Do I Talk to My                                                  How Do I Talk to My                                                   What if My Family 
      Family About My                                                      Children?                                                             Does Not Want to 
                 How Do I Talk to My Family About My 
      HBOC Diagnosis?                                                      If you have HBOC, each of your                                        Talk?
      WHO: Your parents, siblings, and                                     children has a 50% (1 in 2) chance                                    Talking to some family members 
                 HBOC Diagnosis?
      children are the family members                                      of having HBOC. Genetic testing for                                   about HBOC might not be easy. 
      who are most likely to have HBOC.                                    HBOC is typically not                                                 Some might not understand why 
      Other blood relatives, such as                                       recommended for children younger                                      they need to know this 
      aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and                                   than 18, but can be considered                                        information. Others might be 
      cousins, are also more likely to                                     when your children reach                                              nervous about receiving a 
      have HBOC. Your healthcare                                           adulthood.                                                            diagnosis of HBOC. Remember 
      provider or genetic counselor can                                                                                                          that family members need to make 
      help you figure out who in your                                      Younger children might not be able                                    their own choices about getting 
      family might have HBOC and thus                                      to understand what your diagnosis                                     tested, whether or not you agree 
      would benefit from knowing about                                     means for you or for them. Children                                   with their decisions. If family 
      your diagnosis.                                                      differ in the age at which they are                                   members don’t want to talk about 
                                                                           ready to learn about this                                             HBOC, respect their wishes. Let 
      WHAT: You can share test results,                                    information. Answer the questions                                     them know you are available to 
      letters from your doctor or genetic                                  they ask. They will ask more                                          talk if they have questions, and 
      counselor, or other information you                                  complex questions as they grow and                                    give them places to find 
      received about your diagnosis with                                   are ready to learn more.                                              information. 
      your family. Giving family members                                    
      information about your specific                                      Know that your children may have                                      When family members don’t want 
      genetic mutation helps their                                         fears about the risk both to                                          to talk about HBOC, you might feel 
      healthcare providers know exactly                                    themselves and to you. Just as you                                    upset or alone. Seek support from 
      which test to use and might                                          need time and support to cope with                                    friends, healthcare providers, 
      possibly save your family money.                                     the information and accept it, so                                     other family members, or people 
                                                                           will your children.                                                   you know with HBOC. 
      HOW: If you need extra support                                                                                                             Where Can I Find 
      talking to your family, bring a 
      friend. You can also ask a family                                                                                                          More Information?
      member to attend your next                                                                                                                 You can find information on HBOC 
      medical appointment with you. The                                                                                                          at:
      website http://kintalk.org can help                                                                                                        https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/diseas
      you let your relatives know about                                                                                                          e/breast_ovarian_cancer/index.htm
      your diagnosis and provides                                                                                                                  
      resources to help them learn more                                                                                                          You can find information on 
      about HBOC. A sample letter that                                                                                                           support groups for breast cancer 
      you can fill out and send to your                                                                                                          at:
      family is available at                                                                                                                     http://www.diseaseinfosearch.org/Br
      https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/implemen                                                                                                      east+Cancer/960
      tation/toolkit/file/HBOC_letter_patie                                                                                                       
      nts.docx                                                                                                                                   and support groups for ovarian 
                                                                                                                                                 cancer at:
                                                                                                                                                 http://www.diseaseinfosearch.org/C
                                                                                                                                                 ancer%2C+Ovarian/5504