Just curious, if you have a strong family history...

We're all negative
Cypress -

My father only has two sisters -- both of them are breast cancer survivors, plus two cousins, and now me, his only child. And we're all BRCA negative.

A co-worker of mine comes from a family where just about every woman gets breast cancer -- her mother + all of her sisters and herself. All BRCA negative.

An oncologist I consulted with before chemo, a breast cancer specialist, told me the same thing yours did -- there are so many families with stories like this, that there just has to be a genetic piece of breast cancer that just hasn't been found yet.

Traci

Yup to the family tie, Nope to the test....
My mom's dad died from colorectal cancer. My mom has survived endometrial and breast cancer. I have survived rectal and breast cancer. My full sister has survived anal cancer.

I appologize all the time to my daughter for giving her a septic tank for a gene pool....

But, altho I support testing if necessary for treatment options, I, myself, will not have it done. I'm fairly sure there is a tie with my grandfather, thru my mom (endometrial can also be linked to colorectal...something called HNPCC gene). I ask myself what the testing would cause me to do. Mastectomy? No. I'll face that after my next fight. Being vigilant? Yup...but I am that anyway....I KNOW I can get cancer more than once!!!!

It's a personal choice, but it's early into this testing, and there are false positives as well as negatives. I applaude you all that make the testing community keep working and refining these tests, as well as researching for more genes...

Hugs, Kathi

Yes, family cancers: No BRCA
Mom tested negative. I won't get tested now (long insurance story). My doctors agree that it's still a good idea for me to get uterus and ovaries removed, even though there's no "proof" I have Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome.

I'm beginning to wonder how many with family histories DO test positive for BRCA. All I read about are negative tests. ???

Maybe I woke up crabby today or am getting cynical -- Is Genomic Health (only makers of BRACA test) making money off of something that doesn't really help many who get it?

Yup and Nope
I also have a breast cancer history but through my Mom only. She had her first breats cancer around 40 and a second primary a couple of years later. I had the BRCA and also tested negative (as did my sister). But my oncologist told me the same as the others - there is probably a gene but it just hasn't been identified yet. To me, the testing was worth it even though it doesn't answer all of the genetic questions. I knew that I was going to have to make some tougher choices if it was positive as would my daughter. At the same time, I don't think there is any doubt that the testing is over-priced because of the monopoly and should be available to all women who need it to make their healt-care decisions.

Yes and No, here
Both my mother and my grandmother had BC - post-menopausal. After my mother was diagnosed, her surgeon told me that I needed to start getting mammograms at age 30 and told me all the things I needed to do; eat right, stay thin, exercise, all of that.

I did everything 'right' and at 39, still got BC. I tested negative for the BRAC1 and 2, and I am convinced too that there are genetic links they haven't found yet.

I dont understand what this
I dont understand what this gene test is...BRCA?? Is everyone with BC suppose to have this test and when is it done....cuz ive never heard of it!

cahjah75 said:

The BRCA
The BRCA tests are for high risk individuals. The genetic counselor goes through your whole family history and then tell you your risk. Then a blood test sample is sent to a lab in CA. Women who are of Jewish descent have a higher risk. For me it was more familial.
Char

I'm the 1st that I know of
I'm the 1st that I know of in my family.

Angie2U said:

I'm the first!
I'm the first!

I am the only one in my
I am the only one in my family with the exception of one 1st cousin on Mom's side. I did not have the test done. God Bless
(((Hugs))) Janice

TraciInLA said:

We're all negative
Cypress -

My father only has two sisters -- both of them are breast cancer survivors, plus two cousins, and now me, his only child. And we're all BRCA negative.

A co-worker of mine comes from a family where just about every woman gets breast cancer -- her mother + all of her sisters and herself. All BRCA negative.

An oncologist I consulted with before chemo, a breast cancer specialist, told me the same thing yours did -- there are so many families with stories like this, that there just has to be a genetic piece of breast cancer that just hasn't been found yet.

Traci

No, I am the first
No, I am the first

Christmas Girl said:

No...
I am the first. For any type of cancer at all, both sides of my family.

I'm the only one that I know
I'm the only one that I know of.