My name is Samantha Raymar, and I'm a junior at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York. I’m starting this petition in conjunction with the Reducing Hereditary Cancers Act (H.R. 4752). As a European Jew, I feel strongly about raising awareness surrounding the BRCA gene and allowing for more accessible testing for both women and men who are at risk. 

In 2017, my mom’s mom was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She needed an immediate hysterectomy and later found out that she was BRCA 1 positive. She was 63 years old, had 3 children of her own and a family history of breast cancer, yet none of her doctors ever thought it was necessary for her to get tested before this. My nana dealt with years of chemotherapy, and an eventual double mastectomy, but unfortunately lost her battle with cancer in 2023. I truly believe that if she had been tested sooner, she would still be here with us today.

After her diagnosis, her sister, my great aunt, immediately went for genetic testing.  She was also in fact BRCA 1 positive. Luckily for her, she was able to schedule preventative surgeries (hysterectomy and double mastectomy) and has had a clean bill of health ever since.  Fortunately for my family, the BRCA mutation stopped there. My mom, my aunt and my uncle are all negative. They were able to get tested, but only because they had family history. Their insurance companies and their doctors weren’t willing to give the test without knowing that the gene ran in their family. This should not be the case. All health insurance companies in New York State should be required to cover BRCA testing.

BRCA testing is simple. It is a quick blood test. Everyone should be able to access it regardless of history. Genetic testing allows people to become empowered with knowledge and make informed decisions about their own health. As you can see, this mission is something I feel extremely strongly about and I want as many people as possible to know that the BRCA gene mutations can increase the risk of developing male or female breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer by over 50%. 

The Reducing Hereditary Cancers Act has been brought forth in congress to cover those at risk. It needs to be expanded to allow for wider testing across communities and all age groups. By supporting this petition, we can bring about change.