Gilda Radner Familial Registry

groundeffect

There is an excellent newsletter posted on the website of the Gilda Radner Familial Registry for 2004. It has interesting articles about HRT, health insurance/employability, genetic counseling (did you know that those pesky BRCA gene mutations can help men know if they're genetically predisposed to breast and prostate cancers?), and prophylactic oophoerectomy.

Knowledge is power, and this newsletter is a wonderful source.

My brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age (51) just a month after I was diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancers when I was 49 (also considered a young age), and I am working on entering my family into the registry.

Look at this free newsletter posted at www.ovariancancer.com. There's a lot of information there, and on the site.

BonnieR

thanks for the information. I did recieve the packet to register at gilda radnerfoundation. But by the time I found all the information I needed I misplaced the packet. I figure it will eventually turn up. I am going to check out article you talked about though. I have the BRCA2 genetic defect and did send the information to all my family members, both men and women. The guys can also pass it on to their children and maybe not get cancer themselves.

groundeffect

BonnieR said:

thanks for the information. I did recieve the packet to register at gilda radnerfoundation. But by the time I found all the information I needed I misplaced the packet. I figure it will eventually turn up. I am going to check out article you talked about though. I have the BRCA2 genetic defect and did send the information to all my family members, both men and women. The guys can also pass it on to their children and maybe not get cancer themselves.

Bonnie, I'm glad to hear you're going to share the info with your family. I haven't had a BRCA test because I don't have any children, but it's not out of the question even with even with that being a fact. I've already had one breast biopsy, and am really afraid of developing breast cancer - there are family members that have had it.

There's no reason not to make family members aware of it, and get help rid of the "whispering" reputation of OVCA. My husband's aunt died of it, and their family seems reluctant to say what type of cancer she died of - one of her sisters was surprised to hear that I had it, and I didn't really know her sister had died of it!

I wish you well with your new therapy. None of it's a pleasure trip, but if it makes you feel better, it will be worth it!