Gene testing.

Lissab

is it common for a grandma, daughter & granddaughter on same side to all have breast cancer without it being in our gene somewhere? My grandma was diagnosed in her 40's, my mom this week at 59, me in December last year at 37.  Should my mom & I do the gene test?

lintrollerderby

I'm very sorry to hear about your family history. It isn't common to have that much prevalence and genetic counseling is definitely something you should consider. I say counseling, not testing because there are several genetic mutations known to cause familial breast cancer. Of these, BRCA is the most common. A genetic counselor can work with you to comb through all disease in your family so that the appropriate test can be run. It's not advisable to just have a doctor's office draw some blood for a BRCA test. 

Family history is a tricky thing. I'm positive for a BRCA1 mutation, yet I have no family history. I think it would be the appropriate next step to see a genetic counselor.

Lissab

thank you. I did have one at my initial diagnosis but it was misplaced & then out on hold for almost 3 months. Now with all this it makes me feel like I should do it again. My dr gave me that option when all that happened but I didn't. Now I'm thinking I should. Just worries me bc I also have a 19 year old daughter & 14 yeAr old son. 

lintrollerderby

I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. What did you have at initial diagnosis that was misplaced and then on hold for 3 months?

I can understand it's scary. It's definitely better to know if there's a mutation in the family. After I tested positive, my daughter, who is my only child also tested positive. She's 20 and underwent a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction in March. I hate that she was passed this risk, but I'm very glad that she knew ahead of time and was able to take steps to reduce her chances.

Lissab

my test bc at 1st it was misplaced, then we chAnged insurance & it got on hold again. She gave me option to redo it but I chose not to. Now that my mom has also been diagnosed, I kinda feel I should to ease my mind & then decide about my daughter being tested. 

lintrollerderby

I see. I'm sorry you have the worry. I hope there is no genetic mutation to worry about, but if there is, your son has the same risk of having inherited it from you as your daughter does. I see that he's 14, so he wouldn't be able to test; however, I just wanted to make sure you know in the event you were to be positive, every one of your biological children has a 50% chance of inheriting it.

DiveCat

I will add that is also very possible to have a strong family history, and not be BRCA+. There may be another genetic mutation at play, or it may be unknown genetic factors. Where there is not a known BRCA-mutation in the family, one can still be high risk.

My mother was dx'd at 48, my grandmother at 48, then again a few years later, my two great grandmothers in their 50s/60s. All but one of them ended up with metastatic breast cancer.

We have no known genetic mutation in the family.  I was still considered at high risk, and had a PBMX in April. My genetic counsellors believe there are polygenetic factors or an unknown mutation at play.

Only about 1/4 of those with hereditary risk are at risk due to a BRCA-mutation. Others have other mutations, and many others are uninformed negatives, like me.

I do think you should go to genetic counselling, and they can decide if testing is suitable, and what tests. Your daughter then as an adult (if you were positive for a mutation) also has a choice as to what she does, and if and when she tests.

I agree with lint roller derby though, if you DO have a BRCA-mutation, your son can also inherit it and pass it on. He himself would then also be at higher risk for certain cancers depending on the mutation (I.e. breast, pancreatic, etc)

Lissab

thank y'all. I do have Appointment on the 11th. 

twoam

My sister and I have both had BC. I tested brac-. My surgeon and ongologist both strongly beleive that we have a gene that has not been identified yet.