2+ years after diagnosis, should I be tested for BRCA gene?

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ByFaith
ByFaith Member Posts: 270
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 IDC left breast (1 cm, no node involvement) in 2010 when I was 54 years old and had a lumpectomy with clear margins. My tumor was grade 2 and ER/PR positive and my breast surgeon and oncologist said it was a very common BC type for post-menopausal women (I had a complete hysterectomy 6 years prior). I received radiation, but my oncologist said there was no need for chemotherapy. I've taken an aromatase inhibitor (Arimidex) pills since completing radiation in 2010. I get my care at a highly reputable hospital, but was never tested for BRCA at time of diagnosis, just the usual tests and an breast MRI before surgery, and now regular followups and mammograms. 

I had a total hysterectomy with ovaries removed at age 48 (6 years prior to BC dx) due to very large fibroids. After the total hysterectomy I was immediately started on a very low dose bio-identical estradiol patch at age 48, which I wore until my BC dx in 2010. (I was just about to go off the patch at my time of dx and now regret ever wearing it.) My mom never had BC, but did pass away at age 59 of lung cancer (heavy smoker). My maternal aunt passed away years ago of BC dx'd at a late stage, but my paternal grandma was dx'd with BC at age 72 and lived a full life until she died of a stroke in her late 80s.

SO .... my QUESTION is:  If I've already been dx'd with BC 2-1/2 years ago in my left breast (lumpectomy and radiation), had ovaries removed at time of hysterectomy at 6 years ago, and am taking Arimidex now, is there any need for me to request a BRCA test at this point in time? When should my 21-year-old daughter be tested? 

I know there's a BRCA board here, but didn't post there because it seemed to be for women who already had a BRCA gene detected.  Thanks for any help you can provide.  

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  • howhm02l
    howhm02l Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2012

    Dawnsm - with no other family history of BC or ovarian cancer, and your BC being post menopausal, it seems unlikely that you would have a BRCA gene. My mother and her sister both had pre-menopausal BC, and I am BRCA2+. My grandfather's mother also had BC so we think the been comes from his side. I am the first to be tested because my mother passed away before the gene was identified. Fortunately, my sister was negative.



    It is important to note that hereditary breast cancers are a small percentage of breast cancers. That said, you may want to ask your MO for a referral to a genetic counselor.

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  • mw900
    mw900 Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2012

    Dawn,

    If you had the BRCA test, what would that information provide for you? If the test will give you information that will help you make future decisions, that would be helpful. For me, I was tested as part of the Genentech research into women who used Avastin, and the test results make no difference to me, so if I had to pay for testing I wouldn't have done it. Howhm021 had a good suggestion of getting a referral to a genetic counselor. Good luck whatever you decide.

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited October 2012

    Thanks to all who replied. I really appreciate the info. :)

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