Ever since FORCE coined the word “previvors” in 2000, the word has been slowly gaining ground. And this year, it seems to have really burst into the limelight: It was featured on CNN, The Today Show, and in Glamour magazine. The book I wrote, Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions, was published by Penguin. And, thanks to FORCE, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bright Pink, and the Young Survival Coalition, the last Wednesday of September is now officially National Previvor Day.

However, with increased awareness comes increased confusion. Many people seem to misunderstand what the word “previvors” really means. I hope to help clear things up a bit.

I just had to write about something I’ve been noticing lately. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month in full-swing, I’ve been attending luncheon after luncheon, seminar after seminar, speaking about my book Previvors. And the feedback has been tremendous: So many women have told me that, because of their family histories or other risk factors, they know they have to confront their risk. They agree with the book’s message that they have to take charge of their health. They have to turn their fear of breast cancer into empowerment.

However, I’ve also learned that many women are still so afraid of breast cancer (or so in the dark about it), that they are actually doing themselves more harm than good.

While writing Previvors, I’ve come across so many brave, inspirational women. And one of them is a 23-year-old woman named  Claudia Gilmore. Claudia has launched a blog and web series called Previve, where she is documenting her experience as a previvor. She is planning on having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in January.

On the one hand, it’s sad that women have to make such a choice to prevent a disease they feel they’re destined to get. And experts are desperately trying to find better options. But on the other hand, how lucky are we that we can take charge of our health and fight breast cancer before it strikes.

Today is the big day!!!  Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions is now available nationwide. I started working on this book in January 2008 and I can’t believe that this day has finally come.

I can’t even describe what it’s like watching a seed of an idea (which wasn’t mine by the way) transform into a 267 page book. I am moved beyond words by the support and attention the book has received so far. I am honored to have delved so deeply into the world of previvors, full of so many brave and inspirational women. And sadly, I have met far too many women who are living in fear of breast cancer because of their family history. I hope this book helps you in some way.

I was so blessed to go through this incredible experience with five of the most passionate, intelligent, loving women I have ever met. Lisa, Mayde, Amy, Rori, and Suzanne: I love you and I am so lucky to know you. Your seed of an idea is now a reality.  Now LET’S CELEBRATE!!!

The whole point of writing the book Previvors, and the whole reason Lisa, Mayde, Amy, Rori, and Suzanne decided there should be a book in the first place, is to raise awareness. With the book coming out on October 5th (three more days!), it seems like the local and national media realize the importance of this topic as well.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, CNN will be covering cancer and genetics every Sunday in October at 4:40 EST. And this Sunday, on October 3rd, CNN News Anchor Fredricka Whitfield will featuring our book PREVIVORS!!!!. Our very own Suzanne Citere and Rori Clark will be on the air live.

Please be sure to set your DVRs!

To see the other examples of previvors in the news, check out: www.dinarothport.com/news-events/

*This post originally appeared on www.previvors.com.

Today is the first ever National Previvor Day. And while I blogged about this incredible resolution when Congress first passed it, I wanted to write something to the five women who first introduced me to the world of previvors a few years ago:

I know how much this day means to you. I know that the whole reason you wanted to create a book was to raise awareness for previvors, and now you have a national day that helps you spread your message just a little bit louder. I know that this day is about empowerment, about being proactive, about taking charge of your health, about taking steps to fight breast cancer before it strikes. But it’s also a day when you’re probably thinking about the women who didn’t have such opportunities; the women who had to face a cancer diagnosis, not just their cancer risk.

I’m sure you are thinking about your moms. I just wanted you to know that today I’ll be thinking about  you.

Today marks the beginning of National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week. This is such a important step for women who have a high risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer, breast cancer survivors, and anyone striving to find better ways to fight these terrible diseases.

This awareness will help with education, with funding, and with letting high risk women know that they do have options.

For the last three years, I’ve been completely immersed in the world of previvors. I’ve spent hours upon hours listening to the stories of Lisa Marton, Mayde Wiener, Amy Rosenthal, Rori Clark, and Suzanne Citere which were heart-breaking and moving, but also inspirational and uplifting. I’ve attended several FORCE conferences, where I met women who were desperate to learn about their risk and utterly confused about what to do about. I spoken with remarkable women like Sue Friedman and Lindsay Avner who truly have given previvors tremendous resources as well as outlets to share their fears and concerns. (Resources and outlets that, until recently, didn’t exist.) I’ve interviewed dozens of medical experts who said that the options need to get even better for previvors, and their hope that the tide would soon change.

Well, it looks like it just might.

You probably already know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are reminders everywhere…stories in the media, breast cancer luncheons, fundraising walks, and pink ribbons at every turn. And I think it’s great that so much attention is paid to this horrible disease. But what most people don’t realize is that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. It seems to get lost in the shuffle.

In the October issue of Glamour, I wrote an item entitled “Meet the ‘Previvor Generation'” Thank you, Glamour, for helping to get the word out about breast cancer previvors and the issues they face.

For anyone who read the piece and is looking for a quick resource list, here you go:

Resources for Previvors:

FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered): The organization which coined the term “previvor”, FORCE provides a wealth of information and resources for women with a hereditary risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Previvors can connect with other high-risk women via the site’s message board. www.facingourrisk.org