Seeing Genetic Counselor on Wednesday

If you are just talking about your Mom being tested for BRCA and being negative, even if your grandmother was positive your mom only had a 50% chance of inheriting that gene. If your mom is negative you would be negative too unless your dad was also a carrier & you inherited it from him.

They could possibly also test you for other genes though if your family history suggested another genetic syndrome.

It is a fascinating experience. My counselor talked to me a long time about lots of things

Hi Suki,

I had the Breast Next panel done which tests for 17 genes including BRCA. If your insurance covers it perhaps ask for the more comprehensive testing if they don't already have it planned for you. You have considerable family history and need the whole picture!

Good luck!

I am 38. I wasn't tested for brca. They said I probably didn't have that mutation. But brca only counts for 5-10% of breast cancers. There are others that have a family link but that they can't test for yet. They told me that a further 20% of breast cancers have some familial link.. Like it may be genetic, it may be because of a predisposition to other things, or it may be a combination of other genes. Either way, they don't understand it and can't test for it yet. They thing I am in that bag. I was given a 1/4 chance of getting bc. For my mum (bc at 52) and her mum (bc at 56) it was fatal. For my dads sister it was fatal too (bc 60)And her grabdma. And my dads mum died of ovarian..

I am having a prophylactic mastectomy on 24 May.

I don't like my odds. I just want them gone. I am making my choice now, while I have a choice.

Am here if you want to talk. I feel I am a bit unusual to be having a mastectomy without the brca gene mutation. But I am glad to have the choice and Feel lucky to have the chance to act now xx

I just had the 26 panel test. They said it would take three weeks. It took just two. Hopefully it will be quicker for you, as well. The wait is difficult.

I was negative, but the geneticist said it doesn't change family history and so I'm still high risk.

Suki, I think I may have had the 20something-gene panel test. Initially, they did a 5-gene panel, which included the BRCA1&2, plus some other less common genes. Since I have a terrible family history--32 individuals with various cancers, including 5 breast cancers, one at age 24 and one male BC. Many died of colon or lung cancers, so the genetics counselor recommended the expanded test. It took about 4 weeks, I think. I ended up having the PALB2 and Chek2 mutations. She estimated that my breast cancer risk had been about 45%. I had both of my older kids tested, since they're in their 20s. DS was negative; DD was positive for both. The genetics counselor estimates her risk of breast cancer at about 58%. Since she is 23, I'm taking her to see my breast surgeon next week to develop a plan for surveillance.

Yes, I'm still taking Femara, having no SEs so far. Due to my family's cancer history (did I mention that 2 of my sisters have also had uterine cancer?) I will be having a full hysterectomy, too. I only have one ovary left, having lost the left one to a ginormous ovarian cyst about 15 years ago.