I don't want the genetic blood test....

This is a big oversimplification, but if there is a gene mutation in your parents, both you and your sister had a 50% chance of inheriting it. Just because your sister does or does not have one does not mean that that is the case for you. Like Simone said, depending on the results, it could influence a lot more than just your risk for breast cancer.

I have also declined the test (several times). I understand the significance of it but since I've made my mind up about my treatment I don't see the point. I was diagnosed at 38 so it is quite obvious that there's something wrong with me but I've had no children so whatever is wrong with me is going to die with me. If you are not ready for the test you don't need to take it, you may or may not in the future. It's entirely your decision. Best of luck whatever you do.

Just a side bar, but part of the benefit of genetic testing is that (collectively) it might help discover genetic connections that we don't yet know about, that can benefit our kids and grandkids.

I was genetically tested and came back with only a one mutation of "uncertain significance." It may or may not have anything to do with my cancer; likely not.

I was DES-exposed in utero and that may be what explains my cancer. Or it could be a freak event, a random mutation. Nobody in my family on either side has had cancer at all, except one grandmother (in her 80's). Everyone has lived to 86-96 for the last 4 generations, except one alcoholic who drank himself to death and another who died of Spanish Flu. My parents eat like crap and don't move around and are both clicking along at 86 and 91.

I wanted to know, since I have children, and I would want them to be aware if they were at risk, and to monitor anything relevant.

My sister and I both did testing and came up with nothing. I was so surprised. I would be curious to know if your MO thinks your results would likely be different than your sisters? I have no idea how often one sibling carries a gene mutation and one doesn't. I do sometimes wonder if my nieces should get tested even tho our test results did not have any mutations.

I was tested and am positive for BRAC2; shortly after receiving the results, I was diagnosed with both Melanoma and BC. A good reason for me to get tested was that insurance pays for Breast MRI's/continued testing which it would not otherwise pay for. The first Breast MRI was fine but the second year, the BC showed up and didn't on mammogram or ultrasound. Also, insurance paid for other testing such as periodic vaginal ultrasounds/sonograms to look for early detection ovarian cancer. Insurance also pays for PET/CT scans as follow up to Melanoma. Those are the reasons I got tested even though I knew family members were positive.

Sorry to hear that, Viewfinder. I thought of my results as a very good piece of information to have in order to help avoid some future possible issues. My treatment and surveillance are much more proactive. I think of it as a shot at a long life that I might not have otherwise had!

Knowledge is power! Keep us posted!

viewfinder - it would be interesting to see the notes in your sister’s chart. In medicine if the dr comes in and lays all the options out (which they have to otherwise it’s considered malpractice) and your sister said something like, ‘I’d prefer not to have to have a mastectomy.’ (Many of us would say this.) The dr then focuses on the other options. In the chart it would say something like, ‘Patient declined mastectomy.’ The reality was she didn’t decline, she stated her preference but likely was not educated on the benefits of mastectomy vs other options due to an initial statement. (BTW, thisis the new way in medicine today - don’t argue with the patient. Follow their lead without question regardless.) In the average patient’s mind the other options presented must have the same efficacy or they wouldn’t be presented as options. In actuality with BRCA1, mastectomy is the treatment that reduces risk by 97%. Lumpectomy with clean margins, chemo, and rads treat the current cancer only and does nothing for the mutation risk reduction.

When I had genetic counseling before I got tested for BRCA, I asked whether a positive result would mean a mastectomy right away. They told me that it would be an option, but regular MRI screening would be another option.

(For me, it turned out negative, despite an intense family history).