When my late wife was diagnosed with hereditary cancer, I often found myself trying to explain her cancer and genetic mutations to friends and acquaintances. But hereditary cancer and inherited genetic variants are really complicated subjects. In addition, I soon learned that many people have limited knowledge of basic genomic science. Knowing many people might not understand much about genetics often left me unsure on how to start the conversation. To be honest, it took me a while to figure it out.
So, as National Hereditary Cancer Week draws to a close, I’d like to offer what I eventually came up with. Here are four simple sentences that can be used as the script to start the conversation with those unfamiliar with hereditary cancer and genetics.
Tens of thousands of cancer cases could be prevented every year. Thousands of deaths could be averted every year. And millions and millions of dollars in treatment costs could be avoided. But the conversation about hereditary cancer risk and the importance of knowing family health history needs to improve drastically if we hope to accomplish any of that.
Let’s change the way we talk about hereditary cancer.
10/4/25
Talking About Hereditary Cancer
9/18/25
Mendel G. Cat's DNA Book is Now Available
Now available at most online bookstores in paperback and hardbound editions!
The book is a fun little introduction to genomic science for readers six and up featuring Mendel G. Cat. (A lot of adults might benefit from reading it too.)
Every $1 I make off the book (which, literally is about the royalty per copy) will go to fund my hereditary cancer advocacy work and to help me to provide free copies of the book to classrooms, school libraries, and nonprofits.
Go to www.MendelCat.com
Paperback ISBN 979-8-218-77999-3
Hardbound: ISBN 979-8-218-79986-1
(Probably will not be available in local bookstores for a while, unfortunately.
But they can order it for you.)
9/16/25
Previvor Day Poster
Previvor Day is still a couple weeks away, but I want to release this now to help raise awareness and understanding of previvorship ahead of the day. As a parent of a previvor, I celebrate Previvor Day as well as all the science that is giving my child a chance at full life cancer-free.
This poster can be downloaded at: https://genetionary.org/poster/index.html
9/8/25
9/2/25
Yay Yay DNA!
“Explain it to me like I’m six.”
That’s a quote from an adult. And it was the inspiration for this book.
As a hereditary cancer advocate, I have found that, sadly, a lot of adults don’t know much about basic genomic science. So I created something to introduce little ones to the subject so that hopefully when they grow up, they won’t be totally clueless.
Join Mendel G. Cat and learn more about the tiny thin thread that connects all life. Coming soon.
8/29/25
Download a Copy of The Peas and Q's of Hereditary Cancer
While providing nearly 1K free copies to nonprofits, genetic counselors, and others, I got numerous requests to also create an online edition of this book. Okay. Here it is: www.genetionary.org/book
I will continue to provide boxes of professionally published copies to nonprofits, certified genetic counselors, and etc. as much as possible.
8/7/25
RNA is Life!
This was created for kids to introduce them to basic genomic science. But damn, there are a whole lot of supposed grown-ups who need to be set down at a desk and given a box of crayons and this book.
It can be downloaded at www.genetionary.org/DNA