Dr. Friedman was a practicing veterinarian in 1996 when she was diagnosed at age 33 with breast cancer and later learned she carried a BRCA2 mutation. She founded the nonprofit organization Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) in 1999 to improve the lives of people affected by hereditary cancers. Since then, under Sue's direction, the organization has become an unequaled source of research, advocacy, support, and information regarding risk management, prevention, and awareness.