As a hereditary cancer widower and a parent of a BRCA2 previvor, this is my grassroots effort to help prevent other families from losing a loved one to a cancer that could have been prevented. Please join me by sharing your hereditary cancer story with the White House and on social media on DNA Day, April 25th.       Here is the link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/cancermoonshot/share-your-story/ Sharing your story and any ideas will help the Cancer Moonshot focus on what will help the most in preventing cancer. No matter what your political affiliation, please speak ..read more

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With Earth Day (4/22) and DNA Day (4/25) both being in April, I thought I would have a little fun illustrating some natural science for grown-ups like I did professionally for children’s publications for years. And because a lot of people just don’t know peas about genetics. Also see ..read more

   Of course, it’s far more complicated – there are differences in hox genes, proteins, etc., etc., and etc. But all life is connected, every living thing shares some DNA with every other living thing on Earth. With Earth Day and DNA Day both being in April, I thought I would have a little fun illustrating science for grown-ups like I did professionally for children’s publications for years. And because a lot of people just don’t know peas about genetics. Watch for more art and DNA fun over the next few weeks ..read more

aware·ness (ə-ˈwer-nəs) noun  “Conscious knowledge.” Preventing hereditary cancer starts with awareness. Here is my second graphic in what will be a series illustrating the basics of genes and genetic mutations to hopefully help raise awareness about what can be a life-saving subject. I want to give a big thank you and shout-out to Michelle Springer, a certified genetic counselor, for being my technical reviewer on this project. You can download a PDF of this infographic at https://genetionary.org/brca/ Again, like my first illustration in the series, I created this infographic with a ..read more

I believe very strongly in the Duty to Warn when there is any danger to the life of another person. And that includes sharing information about genetic mutations and potential cancer risks. Unfortunately, there are medical privacy laws that hinder the sharing of genetic information among family members. That leaves the task to family members who might be unsure of how to approach other genetic relatives about a difficult and complex subject. Sharing information about genetic mutations with relatives who may have inherited the same mutation and who may be at risk of cancer can be a complicated ..read more

ConnectMyVariant.org is an educational health-focused nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families with inherited disease, such as hereditary cancer, with early detection and prevention efforts. It also works to increase awareness of the benefits of family outreach among physicians and others who provide preventative care, as well as those in the genealogy community. Every month I will be sharing an image I have created as a volunteer advocate for ConnectMyVariant to help bring attention to the nonprofit's efforts to connect families and save lives.   ..read more

This is something many people struggle with. Granted, it can be confusing, but it is something very important to know when it comes to hereditary diseases, hereditary cancer, and sharing genetic information with your family. These are the relatives to start with when you have important family health history to share. Keep in mind that the same disease-risk variant may be carried by numerous relatives separated by many degrees over multiple generations. That’s why knowing and sharing family health history is very important.  A PDF of this graphic can be downloaded at genetionary.org It is ..read more

  This is a whimsical take on a very serious subject that, unfortunately, many grown-ups do not grasp. As a hereditary cancer advocate, I have found that many adults don’t really understand basic biology, much less genetics. Add in genetic mutations and cancer, and the mental gears stop turning.   I spent a big part of my illustration career creating artwork that helped to visually explain complex scientific concepts to 6 to 9-year-olds. So I thought I’d use those skills to maybe help more people understand genetics and hereditary cancer.   I do this with a heavy heart and with ..read more

  As National Cancer Prevention Month winds down, I wanted to share one more thought on how far we still have to go in the quest to prevent cancer. As a former cancer caregiver, now widower, I can understand comparing a cancer diagnosis to a tornado. Hereditary cancer literally ripped life apart. It absolutely destroyed hopes, dreams, and plans. It changed everything. While I have never experienced a major tornado, I have experienced a few small ones at various times in my life here in Phoenix. (Yes, we have tornadoes in Arizona. And we even have warning systems in place here.) The las ..read more