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Fickleflicker
Fickleflicker Member Posts: 2
edited November 2018 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi,

I've been perusing these boards for just over a year. My sister was diagnosed with mixed idc and ilc, stage 2b last September. She is 44. I am 48. My father's sister died from an unknown breast cancer 30 yrs ago at age 40. My sister recently had a meeting with a genetic counselor and they told her I could request a referral to genetics where they would do a BOADICA screening to determine my risk. Has anyone here ever had a similiar history as me get deemed high risk. My understanding is that if I am deemed high risk I will be eligable for MRI breast screening yearly. I had a mammo a few months ago and it was negative. My breasts are very dense. I feel many ropey areas. I also feel stabbing (lightening-like) pains in them routinely throughout my cycle. The pains also sometimes shoot into my armpits. My sister's lump was palpable but neg on u/s and mammo . Routine mammo does not start here until age 50 FYI.

Thanks in advance for any light you may be able to shed.

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  • Yaniza
    Yaniza Member Posts: 140
    edited November 2018

    I'm in Nova Scotia. 40 years of age is the minimum age when annual mammograms are suggested.

    After 50 routine mammograms are suggested every 2 years.

    I'm not a big fan of mammograms. I think and I hope there will be a move to routine MRIS for breast screening..

    I hope that with dense breast tissue and your familial history that an MRI is in your future.

    Yaniza


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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited November 2018

    Can a doc in your healthcare system write a RX for an MRI regardless of age? or do they need the "high risk" reason?

    Pain is not an indicator (or non-indicator) of cancer; dense breasts in the US have now gotten the "high risk" acknowledgement. If they won't do an MRI for you, can you at least request an ultrasound. My lobular was missed on both mammo and ultrasound, but some gals' tumors get picked up.

    If you are allowed the genetic testing, it would certainly assert whether you are higher risk or not (not that it means you will or will not get cancer either way).

    I'm so sorry your sister is dealing with this stuff.


    Yaniza, DH and I took a motorcycle ride to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I'd move there in a heartbeat!!!


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  • Fickleflicker
    Fickleflicker Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2019

    hi there,


    Thank you for the replies wallycat and yaniza. I am going to get the genetics referral and if I don't get an MRI that way.. I will find some other way to get it. I'd like to stop dreaming about breast cancer!!


    Thanks again!

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited November 2018

    Just FYI, the test BC uses if you qualify for testing is Color Genomics.

    I just saw a post that it's on sale right now so if you just want to just go ahead and pay by yourself, now would be the time. It's apparently USD 149.00 until Nov 12. They send you the kit & you just spit in a vial and send it back.

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  • HeyLady
    HeyLady Member Posts: 9
    edited November 2018
    I had the BRAC1 genetics test done. Apparently people of Jewish descent and people with ancestry from Eastern Europe are more prone to carry the gene. I am not a carrier, but have many first cousins who are carriers. Once the "formula" is known the blood test result is known within a month. In our family the "formula" is on file in BC and Alberta with genetics counselling office, with consent. I wasn't worried about myself if I tested positive. I worried if I passed it to my children, both of whom have daughters.
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