What is involved in the testing?

mari65

My onco thinks it would be a good idea. I problem is I have taken so much time off work this year because of bc. How many visits does it usually take for this test from start to finish. The closest place is 2 hours away.

fightinhrd123

Mine was easy, i just had to go to my regular drs, they took blood and sent it away.  I think it took a couple of weeks to get the results back. 

Laura

lago

It's just a blood test. Manytimes they want you to see a genetic counsler to see if you really need the test. I found the genetic counsler useless. Her statistics didn't even make sense to my BS because my risk of having the gene was lower than a person without breast cancer. Hmmm

Also note that if you are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent (80% worldwide are, most in the US are) then you have a slightly higher chance of having the gene (8.3%).

also:

 3.5% Hispanic women

16.7% of African American women younger than 35 that have been diagnosed.

2.2% of white women (non  Ashkenazi Jewish)

This is the type of info a genetic counsler should give you although I found out on my own.

source: http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/genetic/odds_abnrml_genes.jsp

chinadollmom

I had 2 visits:  a preliminary visit with genetic counselor (including blood draw), then a follow-up visit to get the results. The visits with the genetic counselor were required. I found them were useful, if for nothing other than getting better educated about the whole thing. I learned what first-, second- and third-degree relatives were and how much their BC impacted my own chances, and about my potential risk for ovarian cancer. Maybe you could get the results counseling by phone.

toughmom38

I go for my BRCA testing next Wednesday.  I am the very first person in my family to have any kind of cancer.  What are my odds of the test coming back positive?  I am 39 years old, 38 at time of diagnosis.

Jennifer

AnacortesGirl

I had to go down to Seattle which is a 2 hour drive.  Both visits were a day away from work for me because there was no way I could get there, have the appt and get back before the normal quitting time.

The first appointment was mainly going through the family history.  Ex. How many brothers, sister did your mom & dad have and then going through all the aunts and uncles to talk about if they had cancer and what type.  My mom and I were actually being tested together so we shared the appointments.  It was great having her there because she knew so much more family history than I did.  At the end of that appointment they determine that we had enough risk in our family to warrant the test for both of us.  So we immediately went to the blood draw area and had that done. 

Second visit was just to go over the results.  In our case positive.  They were really concerned about our reaction to the news but for us it was a relief because it put a cause to all the cancer that my mom's family has had.

chinablue

I am waiting to here if my insurance will cover the cost of the test.  My insurance will pay if (one of the following): 45 yrs or younger when dx, more than 2 family members dx, or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

I was dx at 46.