Question on criteria for testing

GointoCarolina

I was diagnosed four years ago(age 55,I found the lump myself,had never had a mammogram).At that time,I was unaware of anyone else in my family with breast cancer.Yesterday my 93 year old maternal aunt was diagnosed.Her daughter has a suspicious lump that will be biopsied this week.Her other daughter underwent surgery for advanced uterine cancer last month.I just found out that my maternal grandmother had either ovarian or uterine cancer.My mother as far as we know had nothing,but she had no mammograms or gyn exams for the last 50 plus years of her life.Not sure if this matters, but my maternal uncle and sister both died of leukemia.Is this enough for my onc to request testing? I have younger cousins and nieces that I am concerned about.Thanks for any help.

SelenaWolf

Here in Canada, the criteria seems to be based on the number of first-degree relatives who were diagnosed prior to the age of 40 (45?) with either breast cancer or ovarian cancer or both.  The more first-degree relatives (i.e., mother, sister, grandmother, etc.) with early-onset breast cancer, the higher your "eligibility" becomes, but just one other case of early-onset ovarian cancer makes you eligible almost right away.

Other cancers that are related to the BRCA mutation are stomach cancer, bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma, so if you have relatives who have had any of these cancers, be sure to mention it.

Mutd

Uterine ca. in the family doesn't make you more eligible, but ovarian does. Cancers in your father's family would count too. If your mother had no cancer, or if you have cancer-free sisters or aunts, then it reduces the chances of a mutation, but most insurance companies tally only cancer cases in the family, and don't pay attention to the number of healthy relatives. The rest depends on your insurance ... the rules in the US are far less restrictive than in Canada, but it is a hodgepodge with different insurers.

 An appointment with a Genetic Counsellor may be the easiest way to sort out everything, about your family tree and about the rules of your insurer.

GointoCarolina

Thanks,this helped.I guess the younger family members need to be sure to have as much info as possible.My doctor was going to ask to test me when I was fiirst diagnosed based on the fact that I had no history from my mom or sister, she died at 31.And that I had never had a mammo before.I am betting insurance denied his request.

Sandlake

Go to the NCCN.org for the guidelines.