Detection of Breast Cancer by Blood Test?

Looks promising! Thanks for posting it. 

Hi Kim - Thanks for posting.  I have 2 daughters ages 19 & 21.  I was dx at 45 but mis dx at 43 so they will have to have mammos annually at age 33 apparantly.  I really hope they will be able to have blood tests instead.  I worry a lot about them and wonder what the best plan is for them.  I want to do everything in my power so they are not in my position one day.

Two daughter here.....

Considering the slash, burn and poison that we have all have been through.......I would do anything for my daughters not to go through the same thing......it would totally break my heart.

Jacqueline 

Yeah Kim.  You are right.  I am guilty of forgetting that men make up 10% of breast cancers.  If my % is wrong, I am sorry. 

Jacqueline - Slash, burn and poison... so precise and accurate!!!  To see my daughters going through what I did would be worse than going through it myself I think.  

Kerry - With any luck your princess won't have to go through what we did.  At the rate they are progressing on some of the stuff with bc; things should be very different in 20 years.

I've never heard of it, I think it is very rare for men to get it at all. You know, it wouldn't be a bad thing to ask your Onc, if boys need screening too when they are older.

It is interesting - Prostate Cancer runs in Angus' family, his Uncle died from it (his Dad and other Uncle have both had it) And the daughter of the one who died had Breast Cancer. Wonder if there is a connection (both Hormonal Cancers??)

It is very possible for a mom and son to both have BC.

When my Mom and I pulled together the family history for our genetics counseling she remembered her dad had a growth removed from his chest when she was fairly young (probably in her twenties).  Now that we have the BRCA 2 mutation identified we're very confident that it came from her father.  He died from prostrate cancer but we're very suspicious that he actually had BC and that was what was removed from his chest.  My son and one brother are considering being tested for the gene just to see if they are carriers and may be passing it on to their kids. 

As far as I know there isn't any age requirement for genetic testing.  However you would have to go to a genetic counselor first so they can determine if, with your family history, he meets the criteria for being tested.  My daughter is in BC and she sent me her criteria but I'm not sure if it's the same as what is used in NS. 

Here's another way you might approach it.  If there is no significant history of BC or prostrate cancer from your son's father's family than you could assume that there probably isn't any gene mutation on that side.  Then you could have the gene testing done.  It might be easier for you to meet the criteria since you are/have undergone treatment.  If the results come back negative for you, then you have the knowledge that he does not carry the BRCA gene mutation (unless it came from his father).  If you test positive, then they will have identied the specific mutation.  Now your son would only need to be tested for the specific mutation and not go through the more expensive sequencing tests.  In the US, to test for a specific mutation costs about $500.

My oncologist has everyone under 50 to get tested for the gene. I was 48 and tested out in the 5 percent that has a defect but they dont know if it is significant. They said there was no need for my kids to be tested because even if they have the defect, at this point they want know if it means anything. I am being treated as though it is positive.

I agree with Kerry about waiting.  My DD is going through the process right now -- I'm not sure when her blood test is scheduled.  But she is 29 so she is on cusp of starting the high risk surveillance that begins at 30.  My niece, whose mom died from BC (she wasn't tested), is 22 and is opting to wait to be tested until she is closer to 30.  Just doesn't want to know the results right now.

But if you can get the testing for yourself and you come out negative then you know that, unless the father's history is strong, there will be no need for testing in the future.

And a blood test for cancer would get rid of a lot of this.  Zero or 100.  Much better than all this risk percentage garbage.