BRCA test

shoobie

I am trying to understand whether I am supposed to get the BRCA gene test or my oldest daughter. I am 67 and had a masectomy in 2000 and again in 2007. My daughter recently was told that she was high risk - my cancer,breast density,pre-cancerous cells. Her biopsy came back normal.Shouldn't she be the one to get the test to see if the gene is present as I already know I have cancer and we do not know of any other family members that had breast cancer.This has caused a rift in the family because I felt she was the one who should seek genetic counciling.Any thoughts would be welcome

Merilee

You could always take it and just share the info with your daughter. If you do not have the gene, she won't have it either.

PT6

The first person in family that is tested for the gene is the person who is most likely to carry the gene. Since you actually had breast cancer, you would be the most likely to be tested if you meet your insurance's criteria. There is more to it than just having breast cancer. Remember that the majority of people who develop breast cancer do not carry the gene. They look at things like what your age was when you developed breast cancer / relatives with breast cancer / male family members with breast cancer / abher (i can't spell this) jewish background. I am the BRCA 2+: developed breast cancer at 29. The gene was passed trhough my father's side of the family - my father's mother died of breast cancer. My sister had breast cancer. My cousin died of breast cancer in her early 30s. I was the first person they tested. Interestingly, every male on my father's side for at least 3 generations developed prostate cancer.

smirks44

Shoobie, since you have had breast cancer, you would be the best person to test for the gene if you suspect a genetic link in your family.  If you test positive, your daughter would have a 50/50 chance of carrying the genetic mutation that you have.  If you test negative, it would be clear that you do not have a known mutation, and that since you dont have a known mutation your daughter would not either (unless you suspect that it may have been passed down through her father.....) 

Beesie

Just to add to what's already been said, one other reason why you should get the genetic testing first is because there are many variations to the BRCA gene.  When you are tested, they will look for every possible variation that's known to be problematic.  If they don't find any, then your daughter won't need to be tested - if you don't carry the genetic mutation, then she can't inherit it.  But if you do have one of these problem variations (and therefore are considered to be BRCA+) then when your daughter is tested they will look only for that one particular variation.  So her test will quicker and much less expensive - they'll know exactly what they are looking for. 

On the other hand, if your daughter is tested first, they will have to check for all the possible variations of the gene. If nothing is found, that will mean that your daughter doesn't carry the BRCA mutation, but it won't mean that you don't carry it.  It could still be possible that you do, and if you have other children - either daughters or sons - they could be affected.  So your test will provide a lot more information for all your family, vs. your daughter's test which will only provide information about her own BRCA status.

Eldub

I was also told that the person with breast cancer gets tested first.  And then, same as what Bessie said...if the woman with cancer has the gene mutation, then it's a quicker and much easier (and A LOT cheaper!) test to test her relatives.  Also, insurance is likely to pay for YOU to get tested.  (The test is expensive - in the neighborhood of $3,000.)  Insurance is highly unlikely to pay for someone who doesn't have cancer to get tested unless it is known that one of HER first degree relatives has it.  In other words, insurance may pay for your test, but not for your daughter's unless you come back as having the gene and THEN your daughter gets the test.

Best to you both!

Linda