What counts as familial link?

onceabird

I have been diagnosed with ADH and am 34, so I know my risk is increased. I also have very dense breasts and a condition that causes cysts to grow, making it hard to distinguish between problems and benign lumps.

My Mother is cancer free thus far (she is 65) and my maternal grandmother had invasive endometrial cancer that resulted in a total hysterectomy at age 52. I have no aunts or cousins, as my mother is an only child and my father only has a brother so I don't know their history. I am negative for BRCA1 and 2.

If my maternal Grandfather's sisters (all 3) died from breast cancer at ages between 50-75, is it worth mentioning to the oncologist, or is that too distant to matter?

Thanks

MelissaDallas

Ask for a consult with a geneticist.

Scrafgal

It could be worth mentioning if you want to have a complete gene test, beyond Braca, AND get it covered by your insurance company. Your risk has to be perceived as sufficiently high to justify coverage. I only had a few cousins with history, but my father was adopted and there were some historical knowledge gaps. I paid for a full genetic screen, which includes genes associated with other cancers too...I had to pay $250 out of pocket but I had peace of mind afterwards....I did this after treatment ended because I didn't want to burn time waiting for results before getting on with my chemo.

I don't know if mentioning it would qualify you for coverage but it is worth a shot maybe.

SummerAngel

Yes, I would say it matters. A geneticist will give you more information, though. My mother's side has no breast cancer at all that we can find (both of my parents have been into genealogy for many years), but my dad's side does. There aren't many women on that side, though. My dad's only sister had breast cancer, one of my first cousins had it (at 41), and my dad's grandmother on his dad's side had it (and died from it at 47). That was enough to increase risk, based on what my geneticist said.