p-53 test

msShelly

I heard about this test if cancer runs in the family or individual. How can you be tested? im not sure if it has to be tested on the tumor or through the blood? Thanks

pip57

I was given the p53 test.  My teenage daughter died from a very aggressive sarcoma that they assumed was because of her p53 gene.  My mother also had bc at the same time. And then I was dx.  I live in Canada and the test was funded by the gov't.  They determined that although there was a slight variation in my p53 gene, it was not considered significant enough to cause my cancer.

Hmmm... maybe it was more significant than they thought.

msShelly

pip, i am so sorry that you lost your daughter and then are hit with breast cancer. i can't imagine anybody having to go through that. life is completely inexplicable and i am so sorry.

as for me, one side of my family has had a lot of cancer too. nothing rare and some might have been caused by smoking in some of my relatives, but i guess once you get cancer you begin to wonder. what type of test is the p53 test and how does it work? is it a blood test? i assume there are other genes too that are not determined yet that could also cause cancer too.

i would even be willing to pay for it because i bet insurance here in the states wont cover it, but i would rather know than not know. 

thank you. 

pip57

The p53 gene becomes suspect when there is a history of cancer throughout your family.  Children's cancers are red flags.  Sarcomas are another red flag.  Since the p53 gene is responsible for regulating cell growth, it becomes one of the obvious targets of investigation. 

I was approached by our cancer centre about having the test done.  They did a complete family history and determined that it would be logical to continue with the process.  The gov't covered the costs which are quite substantial in Canada since the test is not done here.  A blood sample was sent to Harvard and the results came back about 6 weeks later.

I have to say that both the doctors and I were surprised by my results.  However, it relieved me of the decision of what to tell my two sons.  Both are very different personalities and would have had very different reactions if there was a possibility of them carrying a defective p53 gene.