Too much cancer in the family...

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Dlia
Dlia Member Posts: 191
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Me and two of my sisters all had breast cancer together. Althought I have my own health to deal with, my mind and heart are always with my sister. One sister was estrogen positive and finished her treatment, but now has lymphedema and osteoporosis. The other sister was first diagnosed in 2010 with estrogen, when it came back in 2011 it was her2, and now 2012 It metastasized to her lungs and liver. Both my mom and dad's sisters, and a couple of their daughters and one daughter's daughter all had breast cancer... Please Lord release the cure for all cancer...

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  • mkkjd60
    mkkjd60 Member Posts: 583
    edited March 2012

    Amen my friend. I feel for you. My mom is stage iv bc too. Heartbreaking. You are in my prayers. Mary

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  • GirlPowerDebbie
    GirlPowerDebbie Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2012

    AMEN.

    My sister is a 32 year survivor.

    Her middle daughter died from BC, age 38.

    I was diagnosed in June 2011.  Just finishing radiation.

    Same sister ... her oldest daughter, age 46, just this week, diagnosed with ovarian cancer which has already spread to her stomach lining.

    I hate this disease.

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  • LISAMG
    LISAMG Member Posts: 639
    edited March 2012

    Dlia, have u or any other family members had genetic testing? Your family history is very compelling and surely has has genetic roots. My thoughts & prayers are with u!

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  • financegirl
    financegirl Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    I was just going to ask same question as LISAMG about the BRAC testing. I had it b/c mom died of BC 40 years ago and her now 81 y/o sister was just diagnosed right before I was.  It was not until I began calling/emailing relatives did I realize how truly prevalent the overall disease is throughout all family on both sides.   The geneticist then transfers it all to a chart that spells out all cancer in the family and, wow is all I can say - all those little triangles and circles.

    I was negative - the geneticists said the population most at risk of testing positive are women of Askenazi Jewish descent - they appear to have the highest number/percentage of BRAC positive genetically linked breast cancers.  

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  • alexandria58
    alexandria58 Member Posts: 1,588
    edited March 2012

    It seems pretty evident that there are other genes besides the BRAC at work in inherited BC.  Researchers just haven't isolated them yet. 

     Sending out sympathy and good thoughts for all those who not only struggle with their own cancer but that of their families.

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited March 2012

    Thanks everyone!! My doctor wanted me to have the test before I found out I had cancer and it came back that I didn't have the gene. My sisters have never had the test done. After I found out that I had bc they told me there was another test they could do to see if I had the gene but I haven't had that done.

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  • smva
    smva Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2012

    dlea:  Do you know what that other test is?  My Mom had bc at 80, is now 96.  Sister had ovarian cancer and passed a few years ago.  I had bc 32 years ago at age 37, now new primary cancer in other breast.  We were five sisters, three tested and all negative, including sister with the ovarian cancer.  Go figure.

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited March 2012

    @ SMVA - No they didn't tell me what the test was they just said it was another test to take, but the woman who was suppose to do the test never called me. I guess I need to call her...

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  • smva
    smva Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2012

    @dlia:  When you find out the name of the test can you please post it?  Thanks.

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited March 2012

    Definitely

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited March 2012

    Smva, there is ongoing research to find more genetic markers for BC and ovarian ca. There are many women with a strong family history of BC and/or ovarian ca who test negative for BRCA 1 & 2.

    Like me. So my genetic material is part of the research.

    Leah

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  • LISAMG
    LISAMG Member Posts: 639
    edited March 2012

    BART panel is the other part of BRCA testing, for an added fee by Myriad, of course. There are other genes that have been identified, such as RAD51C and the CHEK2, both correlate with heredtary HBOC families. Lots of them are still out there...

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited March 2012

    My mom and 3 of her sisters have had BC, another sister osteosarcoma and brother lung... My 3 brothers have had 3 different cancers..I'm Ashkenazi and BRCA- (full sequencing no BART), as was my Mom.

    As Leah and Lisa have said there's ongoing research looking for more markers that may account for cancers in family's like ours.

    Warmly,

    Marcia

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  • Dlia
    Dlia Member Posts: 191
    edited March 2012

    OK I'm back... I had the some what of an ultrasound which the tech asked where was my pain and I showed her and she said I don't see anything, which they didnt check the whole breast just one spot, that usually they roll the thing around but not this time. The surgeon said he see's the area is kind of red and that the nipple is flat but he doesn't see anything and if it is anything it will show on the pathology report. My surgery is on Monday.

    The other test they are going to do after surgery while I'm in the hospital is the BART Test as LisaMG said.

    My sister got a bad report that her cancer is now on her brain,spine, all over her lungs and all over her liver. They immediately started radiation.

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  • girlguru
    girlguru Member Posts: 26
    edited April 2012

    Does anyone know why breast cancer and ovarian cancer are linked? I'm very interested in how they discovered the connection. They are completely different diseases - and ovarian cancer is far less common than breast cancer. I'm also very curious about how the BRCA gene really works. Have they ever explained why so many women with the gene get cancer before 40? Cause it sounds like many people with the gene get it so young... but their relatives got it at much older ages. How can that be? If BRCA carriers get the disease early, then why didn't their relatives?

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited April 2012

    Girl guru,

    The BRCA genes (when normal) function as "repair genes" when one is mutated it does not work as efficiently . Exposure to environmental toxins is an assault to the already damaged gene and allows ,if you will ,cancer to develope.We are exposed to more toxins than our ancestors were and it's likely that this one of the reasons cancer is occurring at younger ages .
    Additionally depending on which specific mutation in might have age at onset of disease may occur younger. In some families the mutation may be within what as known as the "ovarian cluster region" which allows those persons a heads up on their extremely elevated risk for ovarian cancer.
    There's quite a bit of information online regarding BRCA.
    FORCE ( facingourrisk.org) is a good place to learn more.



    Warmly,

    Marcia

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited May 2012

    There are many markers being discovered.  For example here is one:

     http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100720152248.htm

    I don't know if there is a test for this but new tests are on the horizon as I heard about some but cannot remember all the names.  Best bet is to consult a very up to date genetic counselor and see if there are options for you and family members. 

    I have lots of BC in the family but tested BRCA neg as did my sister.

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