Movie screening focuses on breast cancer

Southpoint Cinemas in Durham will screen the movie "Decoding Annie Parker," at 7:30 p.m., Thursday.

The film, according to its website, tells the story of "Annie Parker, a three time cancer survivor and the geneticist Mary-Claire King whose discovery of the breast cancer BRCA gene mutation is considered one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century." It's based on true events.

The cast includes Samantha Morton, Helen Hunt, Aaron Paul, Rashida Jones and Bradley Whitford. The movie opened May 2 in 13 cities across the country. It's available for screenings elsewhere through Gathr Films.

Susie DeSue, a Chapel Hill mom who I met several years ago, is hosting the Durham screening through Gathr. DeSue learned of the movie through two online support groups that she's part of on Facebook. She had a bilateral mastectomy in the fall.

"This is an issue very near and dear to my heart," she tells me.

(Update: This post originally mentioned an event featuring local dad and author Bruce Ham at WakeMed. That event has been canceled.)