BRCA 2? Need advice.

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Jamiegsims
Jamiegsims Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Genetic Testing

Here is my family history.  My dad has no sisters and 2 brothers.  One has had breast cancer.  Their father had 3 brothers and 1 sister.  The sister died at 31 from breast cancer.  Because my insurance wouldn't cover it, and my uncle who had breast cancer has no insurance, my dad had the testing done.  That way if he had it, I would only have to pay for the cheaper test...

 Well, his results were positive for BRCA 2. My test is Monday.

If I am positive, I need advise.  Since I have pratically no female family members to use as referrance on types of cancers, how agressive, what ages they got them, what would you suggest as my course of action?

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited July 2011

    Hi Jamiesims.  I have a very strong family history, so when I found my 2nd lump I had the testing done.  I found out I was BRCA2 positive.  I have 2 sisters and 1 of them had breast cancer 2 times, but she was never tested.  My other sister did the test and she is negative.  She had talked about having a double masectomy followed by reconstruction, if she did test positive.  Some women do that, and  they also have their ovaries removed as well.  I still have my ovaries for now.  There is also a great website to go to and its www.facingourrisk.org  It was a huge help to me as I was facing what choices I had.  If you have anymore question feel free to PM me. 

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  • Lisa65inNY
    Lisa65inNY Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2011

    Hi Jamiegsims:

    If you are BRCA positive, you will have options to decide on that a genetic counselor can review with you.  Those mainly being a) preventive-prophylactic surgeries for breasts and ovaries b) chemo-prevention with drugs such as Tamoxifen, or c) Surveillance.  There is no right answer or wrong answer.  My main suggestion is that if you do come back has having the BRCA 2 mutation, make sure you discuss and review your options with the genetic counselor thoroughly before making decisions.  Some doctors, while they have the best intentions, are not as up to date on the genetic end of it and tend to be very subjective.

    The FORCE website that the above poster mentions is a GREAT source of information!  I highly recommend you visit their website (facingourrisk.org).  At least you'll be able to get an idea of the options before you receive the test results.

    Good luck!

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited July 2011

    I'm absolutely agree with what has been posted.  Go to docs that specialize in genetic cancers.

    As for the aggressiveness (I've come to hate this answer!) it varies with each of us.  My sister died after being dx'ed with stage III invasive lobular cancer.  She was 46 when dx'ed and passed away at 52. She was most likely BRCA 2 positive.  In 2009 my Mom got dx'ed with stage I IDC  and a month later I was dx'ed stage III ILC.  So we got tested together and both came back positive. 

    This is my mom's second dx.  Back when she was about 50 she had DCIS.  She never did anything but surgery.  Thirty years later, at the age of 80, she only did a lumpectomy and rads for her stage I.  She now takes Femara and is a very active 82.  She has way more issues with arthritis in her fused ankle (she had a bad break over 10 years ago) than BC.  Some women just don't get hit as hard.

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