BRCA 1+ with low family history?

Hi Disneyphile,

I'm so sorry you are going through such a rough time.  The diagnostic part of treatment was the scariest for me.

I'm BRCA2(+) and had my Ooph/Salp in Nov. 2011.   I was 47.  It kinda sucked to go through menopause this young, but to know that my chances of getting ovarian ca are lessened and to lower the overall amt of estrogen in my body makes it no-so-bad.  I'll do anything to be here for my family.

The oopherctomy surgery itself was a breeze. Mine was laproscopic.   I was feeling back to myself in just days .  I actually started chemo 5 days afterwards! 

I didn't want a mastectomy either, but I'm SO glad I opted for a BMX!  I didn't know at the time of my surgery that I was BRCA2(+), I just knew that I never wanted to get BC again.  With my family hx, getting rid of all my breast tissue seemed the best/only way to ensure that.  The surgery is not an easy one, but I see it as an investment in my future! 

In my family there are about a dozen of us known to be BRCA2(+).  Only my grandma (who past away when I was 5) and me had BC. 

Have you had your breast surgery yet?  Do you know any specifics about size, type yet?

Have you found FORCE yet?  It's a wonderful resource for BRCA(+) women.

Wishing you strength, sending you hugs

Karmil

I also have 3 wonderful children, my youngest is 10 yrs old!  I plan to be around a VERY long time!  I make plans both long term and short term every day.  I feel confident that I will be around to see them through to completion. 

Have you checked out the FORCE website?  It sounds like you could benefit from exploring that site.  Here's the link:  http://www.facingourrisk.org/support/find-support.php  I've also attended a FORCE support group for BRCA1&2.  That was really helpful.  There were people who were previvors & survivors, as well as people like you who just found out they had the mutation.

I'm planning to go to the FORCE conference in Orlando, FL this fall. (An excuse to visit Disney!!!!)

Many members of my family are/were BRCA2(+) and had no ca.  My father was one of them.  He died from complications of diabetes in his 70s.  Many of the older cousins in my fathers generation are now in their 80s and 90s.  Their children, who have tested (+) for BRCA2,  have decided not to tell them they(the older generation) are carriers.  So, yes, many people grow old without Ca, but you MUST have all the screening tests they recommend. 

I'm glad you are having your appt at the high risk screening center soon.  I would totally try to move up your MRI appt.  Tell them you will take a last minute cancellation- hopefully you'll get in sooner.

Disneyphile, to have both breast and ovarian cancer, it strongly hints at BRCA1. Ovarian alone isn't common at all, and to have it and br ca too is really rare, even in the 70s. And she could have inherited the gene from her father, so you shouldn't be surprised that there is not other "footprints of the mutation" left

Disneyphile: 

Surgical menopause was a necessary evil.  It was not fun.  But having ovarian ca wouldn't be fun either...

At first I didn't feel any different.  A few weeks later the hot flashes started.  (I was in chemo at this point, so that probably made it worse)  I also had vag dryness, but since starting Tamoxifen that seems to have gone away.  My sex drive is pretty much non-existant.  I haven't gained any weight, but have noticed some extra flab that I didn't have before, (but I used to be a big exerciser and have not gotten back into a fitness routine yet.)

Surgical menopause sucks, but estrogen and ovaries are NOT our friends anymore.  And, I hate to say it, but menpause was just around the corner for us anyway...

I just had my 1st bone density test.  I am worried about osteopenia, but I'm hoping that extra calcium and Tamoxifen will keep my bones strong. 

If you have the surgery laproscopically you are up and about in just a few days!  I had gas pains for a few days & I was a bit sore, but really doing everything I needed to be doing withen a week.  I had 3 teeny incisions, really nothing major.

I would take a week, or maybe 2, off from work.

I'm BRCA2+ with no family history. I was diagnosed at age 32. There must have been women in my family to carry the gene mutation and not get BC. Talking to a therapist that specialized in helping women through decisions like this (she was at my treatment center) and the genetic counselor really helped me through everything.