Just found out in brca2 positive

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Careninnj
Careninnj Member Posts: 53
edited July 2018 in Just Diagnosed

I posted the other day a post "i cant do this". Well today i got another great call from my doc. Im brca2+. Im still stage 1. No nodes involved. But shes pushing for a double mx. Is that my best option? Is the reality of just a lumpectomy and radiation really out the window now? It just keeps getting worse and worse. Please help me.

Caren

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  • Cindymb
    Cindymb Member Posts: 206
    edited July 2018

    oh Caren, I remember you from your other post. Im so sorry. I am just learning about all of the different types, but I think your surgeon is recommending a more radical approach because brca2 gene can increase the chance of reaccurance. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will comment.

    🤗 Cindy

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited July 2018

    So sorry for the news. You might take a look at the FORCE website. http://www.facingourrisk.org/index.php


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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited July 2018

    No. It is your choice. A friend of mine was brca1 positive she first had lumpectomy chemo herceptin and radiation. Then years later read all the information and decided to do a bmx with DIEP reconstruction.

    She said she doesn't recommend doing things in that order. It was totally a personal choice her cancer was er- pr- her2+. She was happy with the result, she had her DIEP surgery in 2009. There are many improvements since then.

    She was diagnosed in 2002 and is still cancer free. Being brca2 positive increases the recurrence odds but if you are hormone positive, hormone therapy can help protect you from recurrence regardless of the type of surgery you have. Good surveillance is also key.

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  • adgnola
    adgnola Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2018

    I'm in the same rabbit hole. I just found out today I'm BRCA2+. I have DCIS and IDC in my right breast and so far no lymph node involvement (still waiting on ALL results, I don't know what stage the IDC is, but early). I am leaning towards a double because A) this is a terrible ride and I want to get off, if I don't do a double they recommend a mammo and MRI every 6 months from now on and I can't take the stress of always waiting and wondering, B) I have family history and I already have cancer so my risk factor is pretty high and I've already had a previous biopsy on "suspicious cells" on the left (though not cancer) C) the surgery and recovery of doing one or both is relatively the same, so I'm told it's not adding any unnecessary time/healing/recovery, etc... D) I have to have a mastectomy on the right because of the 2 cancers I have there now.

    I'm still taking all this information in but It's been 17 days since my original diagnosis of DCIS. Since then I have had countless ultrasounds, an MRI which led to 2 more biopsies and now a diagnosis of IDC. I'm tired and scared and a double mastectomy seems like it could end all this chaos for me. I might feel differently after my next appointment.



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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited July 2018

    I sobbed when I got the call. I was pretty inconsolable. It was the night before my mx. It was too late to switch to a double mx at the time (plus I was pregnant and they didn’t want to do more than was necessary). So I had a single mx initially, went through chemo, then did the prophylactic mx and then radiation. I’m planning to do a prophylactic ovary removal too as the risk of ovarian cancer is high.

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  • nonomimi5
    nonomimi5 Member Posts: 434
    edited July 2018

    Caren, Adgnola, I am so sorry for the Dx. Sending lots of prayers yourway. I know all this is traumatic but you can get through this. Take a deep breathe and think one day at a time.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited July 2018

    Careninn, adgnola, i really get it. I turned up positive for PALB2 (pathway and locator for BRCA2 ) and Chek2, both of which cause breast and colon cancers. Although i had already had my lumpectomy by then, my MO strongly encouraged me to have a BMX. My family tree is rife with cancer and i really don't need to be another statistic. I hated to do it, but the breasts had to go

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