"A Cancer in the Family..." GREAT BOOK!

LRGO2016

The following book, published by Avery - an imprint of Penguin Random House, is inspiring and helped me adjust to and act on my genetic knowledge. I recommend it to anyone who has a history of cancer in their family!

"A Cancer in the Family - Take Control of Your Genetic Inheritance" by Theodora Ross, MD., Ph.D; 2016

Dr Ross is a cancer survivor and a top genetic researcher in BRCA1 genes who understands the impact that cancer has on the individual and their families. She translates complex medical facts into laymans terms. She helped me accept my newfound awareness of my BRCA1+ status as a gift! Her positive message helped me transform my anguish into action! In addition to explaining genetic risk and cancer types, stages,and treatments in easily understandable terms, this book contains an exhaustive list of really helpful cancer information resources and links to active foundations and research.

I read the entire book in 4 days, devouring the information before undergoing my surgery. It helped me digest and accept my genetic inheritance and helped me navigate the difficult task of telling my family about my choice and the implications of my genetic information and their own genetic risk.

Learning about my genetic risk and sharing it with my family may save their lives! It has already likely saved mine. What a gift knowledge can be when we use it to make good choices!

Podcast: interview with Dr Ross:

http://www.npr.org/2016/03/14/470371943/bad-luck-o...

Djabi53

I am increased risk because of family history but genetic testing was negative. Would this book be helpful to me or is it just for those who genetic testing is positive? Thanks very much,

Frankie

LRGO2016

Frankie, this book is, in my opinion good for anyone whose family has a cancer history. It deals with how families communicate about cancer, recognising cancer trends and how to obtain appropriate help and advice.

Your negative result is a gift for you, but it does not mean that your family does not carry an inherited risk. A child of a parent with an inherited cancer gene, has only a 50% chance of receiving the gene.

Your result means your decisions and medical choices will be different from someone who carries a genetic risk. If a cancer gene is present in one of your parents, your siblings may have inherited the same gene even if you didn't. It might be worth discussing your family cancer trends with a genetic councilor who can help you determine if the patterns of cancer in your family are likely related.

This book covers this and much more. It also has a very good appendix with many resources for helping you find answers to questions you may have.

I still recommend it. I hope the rest of your family, if they choose to be genetically tested, also are negative.

Inherited "cancer" genes dramatically change risk. My inheritance of a broken BRCA1 gene changed my risk of developing BC from a 12% risk to nearly a 90% risk. One of my parents passed this gene to me. In order to change my risk, I chose to remove my breasts. It was a painful decision, but the right one to give me the best chance for a cancer free life. I feel very lucky to have learned of my risk through my choice to be genetically tested. Because I am BRCA+, my family is choosing to also be tested. Which may save their lives.

I hope the book helps you if you choose to obtain a copy.

PS, here is a link to an article I read here in the BC.org website. This article contains some of the same recommendations found in the book:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20120905