Brca testing

Kayka42
Kayka42 Member Posts: 10
edited March 2015 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

At what age did you have the brca testing done? I'm on the fence about it. On one hand I feel like I'm already living like I'm positive and it's drastically changing the way I live my life. I don't think that's a good thing. I know I have a 50% chance of being negative as well and if the results came back negative I feel like I could breathe a little easier but if they come back positive I just don't know how well I will be able to handle knowing for sure that I have the mutation and more than likely passed it to at least one of my children. I'm young (only 27) I won't make any huge decisions based on then results as of right now. I guess I just needsome experienced information.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2015

    Hi,

    BRCA testing is not standard. It is usually only offered to women whose family history and/or ethnic group indicate a likelihood for possessing the genes. It is not very common at all! Do you have family history or ore you of an ethnic group that makes you think you need to be tested?

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  • Kayka42
    Kayka42 Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2015

    sorry yes my mom is brca1 positive and went through breast Cancer 2 years ago at 47 years old. Although she was positive for progesterone and estrogen which we were told was uncommon for brca mutation.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2015

    Ah, thanks for clarifying that and sorry about your mother. Have you consulted a geneticist? They could probably guide you with respect to timing and subsequent decisions should you test positive

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited February 2015

    If you have not already done so, please check out the FORCE website, www.facingourrisk.org, for more information on inherited cancers. You will find info thereon decision making for testing, recommended timelines for procedures, latest perinent info/research on BRCA, etc.

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  • Jmac3795
    Jmac3795 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2015


    Hi,

    I lost my mother in May to breast cancer.  She was 55 and diagnosed at 47.  She was also BRCA1 positive.  I just went through genetic testing and it turns out that I am both BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 positive with an 87% likelihood of developing breast cancer before the age of 70.  I also have other risk factors such as extremely dense breast tissue and a history of ovarian cysts.  I have 2 small children with no family support system so I need to be proactive, but I don't even know where to start.  I have an appointment with the genetic counselor on March 24th and I am starting to panic.  Anyone here taken any action based upon results of testing and any recommendations would be helpful.  I am thinking about ovaries and fallopian tubes removed this year and a mastectomy next year or vice versa.  I need to be around for another 20 years at least in order to raise my babies!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited February 2015

    Hi. Sorry you are facing these questions. FYI...there is a facebook group called BRCA Sisterhood. It is a closed group so your posts are not on your regular newsfeed. There are lots of women going through the same thing and lots of support there. You just petition to be added. Good luck

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2015

    Hi JMac,

    Welcome to this wonderful community.

    It can be scary finding out that you test positive for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene and we're sure the ladies here will have much advice and support to give you.

    Our main site has some helpful information and a list of options.

    Testing Postive for BRCA1 and BRCA2:

    Sending you our best wishes!

    The mods

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  • Melissa86
    Melissa86 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2015

    Hi, I was 28 when diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I didn't know on my fathers side that there was a family history of breast and ovarian cancer. They tested me right away for BRCA, the tests results came back negative. I had doctors almost promising that I was BRCA positive, so you just never know. I often wonder why I am not BRCA positive and have cancer this young.

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited March 2015

    hi Melissa, so sorry thatyou are here so young! I think there are probably other BRCA mutations that have not been discovered yet. I am glad you found Bc.org. You will find lots of support here.

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