Family history and looking for support

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ABCDE85
ABCDE85 Member Posts: 3
edited July 2018 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi everyone. My mom passed away from triple negative breast cancer at 46 years old. I was in high school at the time. We later discovered that my maternal grandmother had and survived ovarian cancer at around 60 years old. There was some debate on whether it was ovarian cancer because it's known for much poorer outcomes compared to other cancers. I assume it was likely ovarian but we try to hope it wasn't. She did survive it uneventfully and died of other causes 10 years after. I never did a BRCA test but our friend was diagnosed with cancer this year at 35 years old and I'm so so scared. Her prognosis is great but I dont think she even had a history. Terrifying :( I'm roughly that age and have always heard that hereditary cancer often strikes younger as it gets passed along. I look so much like my mother and grandmother too which just makes me more scared. I also heard about a very young actress that was diagnosed at 37 and positive bra gene.i have been assessed for benign lumps and still have cysts/fibroadenomas that keep me in thst panicked state. I have a son and he keeps me going but I'm just so scared. I feel like it's written in my destiny already and I hate to be so pessimistic but nobody else understands. Anyway, thank you for having me and sending good wishes to you all.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited July 2018

    Be vigilant and do not let any doctor tell you that you’re too young for cancer or to get a mammogram. My material aunt has stage IV breast cancer, then my mom got it a few years ago. I was diagnosed at 41,stage IV from the get go in less than two weeks from finding the lump, it had appeared and spread before I knew it. I had no genetic mutations found but a strong family history for sure. Anyway, I don’t mean to scare you, just don’t let your guard down. Good luck.

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

    Smartest thing i ever did was get genetic testing. I have a strong family history of breast, colon, lung, uterine, thyroid, and pancreatic cancers (and a few others.). They did a 19-gene test on me. Good thing, too. My BRCAs were fine, but i have two other, more rare but equally deadly gene mutations, PALB2 and Chek2. They can cause breast, colon, and every other cancer which appears in my family tree! My genetics counselor believes i got one gene mutation from each parent, based on the types of cancer.

    Why was that smart? Because i believe that forewarned is forearmed. My children have been tested (DD25 is also positive for both.) As a result of testing i had a BMX, a hysterectomy, and colonoscopy every 3-5 years. My DD will be offered more frequent surveillance, meds, and the opportunity to have preventative surgeries. Yeah, it sucks to have this, but better the devil you know, than the devil you dont know.

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited July 2018

    ABCDE85:

    I have a family history and always thought I was high risk but no first degree relative so I could not get a prophylactic bmx and so here I am at 38 with breast cancer. I found the lump when I was 36, the same age my grandmother had it, and I was misdiagnosed.

    If my mother had triple negative I would have qualified for a prophylactic bmx and genetic testing and would likely have been able to avoid the cancer.

    If I were you I would at least have comprehensive breast and ovarian cancer genetic testing. Ambry genetics does a 30 something gene panel...some companies might test more.

    I would also talk with your mother's health care provider about having the testing done on any samples they kept from her (they often bank them).

    What I would do personally is...

    If both of you or neither of you turn up with a mutation, I would get a prophylactic bmx, because even if neither of you test positive, there could still be a gene that wasn't tested.

    If she had a mutation and you don't I would possibly hold off on the prophylactic bmx.


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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited July 2018

    Personally, I think genetic testing is pointless other than if you are postive you worry more. There are too many people including myself with VERY strong family history of breast cancer only to come back negitive. Just be dilligent, check for lumps and as someone else said...do not let anyone factor your age. Age is NOTHING. I was 36 when dx the first time and 37 the 2nd time---10 months apart. Nearly all of my aunts had breast or ovarian cancer and my grand mother died at 48 of pancratic cancer. ALL of my genetic testing came back negitive---both times. Go figure.

    Find peace...and honestly sometimes that means controling your thoughts and not letting yourself come to places like this. Hugs!

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  • ABCDE85
    ABCDE85 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2018

    I'm humbled by your stories and beyond grateful to hear your opinions 🖤 I hate cancer. Prayers to you all.

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