Any BRCA carrier who lived a long life with no cancer?

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  • isee
    isee Member Posts: 105
    edited December 2012

    Hi Kerri72...sorry I didn't respond sooner...just saw your question.

    Here is a link for you from "Oxford Journals"

    http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/10/761.full

    This study states, "Our data provide strong evidence of a protective effect of smoking against breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers."

    Yes, I find this very interesting. Who knew! I must say though...I think I would rather have breast cancer then lung cancer....if one had to choose....

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  • Mommy2four
    Mommy2four Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2012

    I haven't read the article about how smoking affects BRCA carriers, but I'm wondering if stress plays a role. Maybe people who are diagnosed at a younger age as BRCA carriers have more stress in their lives because of the diagnosis, which then triggers BC. And maybe smoking, which generally relaxes people, helps reduce that stress. I've heard before that stress can be a factor, I just wonder how strong a factor it is.

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  • isee
    isee Member Posts: 105
    edited December 2012

    Hi Mommy2four,

    No doubt in my mind that stress plays a role! I had to change from a job I loved to one not so desirable to me which caused me huge stress and within 11 months was diagnosed. This was also 2 years after I quit smoking as I mentioned earlier....

    Regardless, I know many people who have endured great stress who have not been diagnosed with cancer of any kind...so, I don't know...guess it could be a trigger for some of us.

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  • BeezusComplex
    BeezusComplex Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2013

    I am BRCA2, and since my mom died from breast cancer at age 43, my doctors think I get my status from her.  But no one on that side of the family - for generations - has shown any signs of cancer.  My grandfather died at 84 of a stroke, and my grandmother is still living.  My grandparents' siblings all lived to a ripe old age (well into the 70s, 80s or 90s), as did the generation before that.  The only people who have died young have died of TB.  So I'm not even sure which of my mother's parents was the carrier.  Isn't that crazy?

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  • BeezusComplex
    BeezusComplex Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2013

    Oh, and incidentally, my mother smoked until she went into the hospital (20 years or so) and I also smoked for over a decade.  The research may show that women with BRCA who smoke may have less chance of developing breast cancer, but I don't believe it based on my own experience.  But if they ever tell me I'm terminal, I'm going to go out and buy myself a carton.  I haven't smoked for years and years because it's so bad for me - but if I'm going to die anyway, then I'm going to do what I like at the end.  Maybe not the best attitude medically, but I really feel like so many things in life are a crap shoot anyway.

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  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2013

    I'm awaiting my BRCA test results. My dad lived to be 85, my mom is 84 and going strong with no signs of cancer but my sister had her first run-in with BC at 32. Then she had two local recurrences. Now she has been clear 10 years. She tells me she tested BRCA negative but she is kind of unreliable. She is very capable of lying about this so as not to scare her daughter. She has a lot of emotional problems. She was ER+ and I am ER-, HER 2+. My doctor told me she hasn't seen a lot of BRCA+ cases when siblings have different cancer characteristics. I'm waiting and following up on my results. Thanks for sharing all our stories. You are all fabulous warriors!

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  • LisaLisa47
    LisaLisa47 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2014

    Hello.  I read your post about your family not being supportive.  I felt the need to write and explain that I am currently in that situation, as well. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I chose a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  At the time, I was denied a bi-lateral mastectomy.  Last July, I was informed that I am BRACA positive and a preventative mastectomy was recommended.  In September, I had the surgery and am still going through ongoing surgeries -- all without the support of my mother or sister.  They felt I was "eight years out and didn't need to have another surgery."  I am having complications with my reconstruction and emotionally, have been so low.  Luckily, I have a very supportive husband and a few good friends.  I hope that your situation has improved and you have remained positive.  It makes all the difference in your healing.  I commend you for being pro-active and do whatever you need to in order to keep cancer away.  Thank you for your post.  It was helpful to read that there are other inconsiderate and ignorant family members out there.  I wish you the best.  Lisa

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2014

    LisaLisa47,

    The last post to this thread was almost a year ago so the person who you were addressing may no longer be monitoring this thread or even participating in bco. Since you have recently joined, my best advice would be to check the dates of posts you are responding to so that you are not posting to an inactive thread. Take care.

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  • Pugwashiler
    Pugwashiler Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2014

    my mother was a carrier and lives to 91 without ever having breast cancer.  She had 4 daughters and two of my sisters at breast cancer survivors and the other one is an ovarian cancer survivor.  I am the youngest (57) and fortunately have not had to face this.  We are ALL Brca2 positive.

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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited July 2014

    My mom is 89 and she never had breast or ovarian cancer. She did have colon cancer at age 63, but I don't know if that had anything to do with the BRCA mutation.

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