BRCAStrong to open hereditary cancer week with Fort Lauderdale summit

BRCAStrong will host Education That Empowers on Sept. 26 at the Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale, pairing expert education with a fundraising luncheon keyed by CNN anchor Sara Sidner. The event spotlights previvors and hereditary cancer care ahead of National Hereditary Cancer Week and supports the nonprofit’s education, advocacy and support work.

Why it matters: - The summit puts previvors at the center of the conversation, a group that often has fewer resources than people already in treatment. - The event comes ahead of National Hereditary Cancer Week, which runs Sept. 27-Oct. 3, and National Previvor Day on Sept. 30. - Proceeds will fund BRCAStrong’s education, advocacy, care packages and support resources for people affected by breast and gynecologic cancers.

What happened: - BRCAStrong will host Education That Empowers on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale. - The day includes a morning of expert-led education and an afternoon fundraising luncheon. - Sara Sidner, CNN anchor, senior national correspondent and breast cancer advocate, will keynote the luncheon. - Sidner will also join a morning question-and-answer session. - Registration and sponsorship details are available here.

The details: - Morning sessions will cover previvorship and survivorship, hereditary cancer risk and prevention, mental and sexual health, body image and menopause care. - Speakers include Jessica MacIntyre of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky of Valley Health System and Dr. Jordan Emont, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. - Admission is $150. - Seating is limited to 100 attendees and is first-registered, first-served. - Financial assistance is available for qualifying attendees. - The event follows BRCAStrong’s tenth anniversary gala in September 2025 and makes education the centerpiece of the organization’s 2026 signature event. - Sponsors include AstraZeneca, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Myriad Genetics as Platinum sponsors; Toriabel Aesthetics as Bronze sponsor; Baptist Health Cancer Care as table sponsor; and The Witherspoon Law Group, Ambry Genetics, Memorial Breast Cancer Center and Clear Path Genetics as community sponsors. - Clear Path Genetics will provide on-site genetic testing at the event. - BRCAStrong says it has delivered nearly 11,500 pre-mastectomy care packages and supported more than 13,500 people impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers. - The nonprofit was founded in 2015 and operates as a national 501(c)(3). - BRCAStrong provides education, advocacy, care packages, post-mastectomy garments and community programs for previvors, survivors and thrivers. - Tracy Milgram, BRCAStrong president, learned she carried a BRCA2 mutation at age 21. - Gabriela Posner, Milgram’s daughter, inspired the nonprofit after seeing her mother recover from a prophylactic double mastectomy and describing her as “like a butterfly.” - Gabriela Posner is now a high school senior. - Milgram is a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

Between the lines: - BRCAStrong is broadening its focus beyond support during treatment to the decisions people face before a cancer diagnosis. - The summit’s emphasis on prevention, menopause and mental health reflects the practical issues hereditary cancer carriers often confront before and after surgery. - Adding on-site genetic testing signals a push to move attendees from awareness to action.

What's next: - The summit will serve as BRCAStrong’s flagship education and fundraising event for 2026. - The organization will use event proceeds to expand programming and support for people navigating hereditary and gynecologic cancer risk. - Attendance remains capped at 100, so interested participants will need to register early.