When you consider all the things you’d like to pass on to your children, cancer certainly doesn’t make the list. But given her family’s history, Ann Best knew it was a possibility. Ann, her mother and her sister are all survivors, and she’s lost several aunts and cousins to the disease.

After much deliberation, Ann underwent genetic testing. Since then, two of her siblings and several of her nieces and nephews have done the same. She’s hoping her two sons will undergo testing soon.

Family members have received a mix of positive and negative results, but whatever the outcome, Ann’s convinced it’s better to be proactive than reactive. “There’s so much anxiety when you think about how this knowledge might affect your kids. But the more you know, the better equipped you are to deal with it.”

Knowing the important role the Foundation plays in helping promote and advance testing locally, Ann remains a vocal advocate, serving as a volunteer, donor and board member. “For my kids, I want to see really good research continue right here. The Foundation helps keep Illinois CancerCare on the cutting edge of treatments and therapies.”

The Foundation supports genetic screening programs to identify hereditary cancers, with special emphasis on families at risk for colorectal and breast cancer. Your contributions help those in need receive financial assistance for tumor sequencing—and empower people to understand their risks and make informed decisions about their futures.

Ann Best May 8, 2017