testing

You're talking BRCA, right? My sister wanted the test, but her insurance wouldn't cover it until my test came back positive. Mine was negative, therefore that was the end of testing. Had mine been positive my HMO would have tested anyone in the family that requested it.

Now the females in my family are on high alert. I remind my daughter monthly about her self-exams and not to miss her yearly exam. She's only 21 and doesn't want to think about it. Who can blame her, neither do I.

lini

I have no immediate family w/BC, but a 2nd cousin and great aunt. They paid for mine, and dont know if it had to do w/that fact or not..I get results on Monday.

One thing tho, my DH has PC and his sister has BC both high grade and highly advanced. I know she wasn't tested, but maybe her daughters were. Now, we have sons, hubby's onco wants our sons tested for PSA at 30. The youngest is 25. Gonna have to find doc to test him sooner since we BOTH have CA..

Susan,

I have tested positive for the BRCA2 gene, so I can address part of this....

If you test and have a TRUE NEGATIVE test (meaning a family gene has already been identified and you've tested negative for that specific gene), then your children have a 0% chance of inheriting the gene. There is no recessive quality to the genes, so you can't pass it along if you don't have it.

If you are the first in the family to test and get a negative test (despite a strong family history or early age diagnosis), then it is an uninformed negative, meaning there could still be another genetic reason leaving you at a higher risk (this has been in the news recently).

As for pushing for testing....YES!!!! I had asked FOR YEARS if I could get tested....I was even sent to an oncologist years before my diagnosis who said my risk was only slightly higher than the general populations...no worries.

After I was dx'd at age 41, I pushed for testing again...this time, given my age at dx, my mom having had cancer at 47 and other cancers on that bloodline, I was able to test and found I was positive.

Now that I'm positive, my blood relatives have a 50% chance of having the gene....so my daughter has a 50% chance of having the same BRCA2 gene, my sister has already tested (positive), so her kids (boys and girls) have the same risks.

If you have not only breast and ovarian but also stomach, esophogeal, pancreatic, prostate cancers on the same blood line, get in touch with a certified genetic counselor. They can evaluate whether testing is warranted in your case and can help with the insurance company.

A good place to start is FORCE (www.facingourrisk.org), a site like this one for men/women with BRCA concerns. There are links there to genetic counselors in your area, a message board, a TONS of great info.

I'm not checking in here every day, so feel free to pm me if you have questions....

Hugs,
Donna

Remember the new thinking on prostate cancer is not the absolute psa number, but the percentage of rise. Men who have PSAs below 4 still can have PC. The new thinking, not rec, is that men should be tested at 40 and watch the rate and percentage of rise. Obviously those with more history may want to start younger. The PSA test alone is not enough, there is a sub test that gives better info if there is any question.Beth

It's just a blood test. It took quite a while for me to get results..I was part of a study..took a few weeks.