BRAC Genetic Testing

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lettyba
lettyba Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last November.  She is triple negative and is going through treatment.  She took the BRAC test and it was returned positive. I just got my results back and I'm positive as well. I'm 33 and pretty frightened... I do want to have kids but everything I've read on testing positive seems to say that my next step would be to remove both my breast and ovaries.

Can anyone please advise...

Thanks

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited April 2009

    Dear lettyba,

    My heart goes out to you.  You are so young.  Preventing cancer is important.  But, having children is important too.  I would check with your sisters' doctor or find an oncologist you feel is really knowledgeable about BRACA.  He may just want to check you frequently until after you have children.  If this is the case then taking good care of yourself can go a long way in protecting you.  Read the Cancer societies guidelines for a healthy life style.  My doc just told me today that a low fat diet, lean body mass and regular vigorous exercise may be as effective at preventing recurrence as chemo.  The verdict is still out.  What ever is good to prevent recurrence is good for primary prevention.

    God be with you,

    Deb

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2009

    Please do a lot of research before doing anything.  The brac+ does not mean you will get cancer.  It specifically does not mean you will get triple negative breast cancer either.  The few sister I've met with cancer had two different kind.  So there is so little proof that this gene means as much as some wish to think.  If you are in fear of TN taking out your ovaries will not help any way.  Hormones do not change our disease. 

    Wishing you peace in your search for answers.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited April 2009

    Dear Letty,

    Florida Lady is right.  My Mom had ER+, PR+ breast cancer 15 years ago and she is still kicking. The hormone sensitive cancer is much easier treat with a cure rate of about 95% if caught early.  The problem with the ovaries isn't hormone, however.  It's that with BRACA their is a correlation with ovarian  cancer as well.  But, like Florida Lady I urge you to be conservative.  There is much that is not known yet and you are so very young. 

    Best of luck to you.  You have plenty of time to research, consult and pray.

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2009

    Isn't it brac2 that is ovarian concerns?  Can't remember.

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  • lettyba
    lettyba Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2009

    Thank you ladies for responding... Though I don't actually post much I have been on this site since my sister was diagnosed and the help that you guys have offered has helped me get through this with her, I am forever greatful to you guys.  I go to every single one of her chemotherapy sessions and have researched her situation day and night so that she doesn't have to read any of the scary stuff... Unfortunately now I know the scary stuff and when the news came from my doctor yesterday, even though I thought I was completely prepared, I freaked out... I still am. But I know all of you are right. My dr is sending me with a gene and breast specialist.  He has been great so far, he advised the same as you all did, to wait and speak to someone who is more familiar with the BRACA. I'm just so afraid that it would be irresponsible of me to have kids since I have a 50% chance of passing it down. My boyfriend, who is very supportive keeps assuring me that these tests are just statistics and that if we went by statistics then our kids would have much larger fish to fry then this gene. Then I think how irresponsible it would be if I do have kids and I do get cancer and having know this, putting them through it...

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2009

    Letty,

    Please check out the FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) web site at www.facingourrisk.org. My sister and I are both BRCA 2+ and my first cancer was a triple negative. I have two sons, two daughters and three grand-daughters, so far. Even knowing that they may carry the BRCA gene, my children all say that they will continue to have children. Some of my kids want to be tested and some don't. I support each of them and their choice...

    Linda

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