Testing for Brca2 Mutation in British Columbia

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Charlierun
Charlierun Member Posts: 35
edited April 2021 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi, I’m wondering how long it takes to get tested for the BRCA mutation in British Columbia? My daughter lives in Penticton and has requested to be tested and has been told she needs to wait. She has not been given a date as to when she will finally receive the genetic testing. I am surprised that she has to wait so long to be tested as she is 40 and I recently found out I am BRCA2 positive along with her brother. We live in Alberta and were tested fairly guickly. As none of her siblings have cancer nor do I , I’m wondering if that is why she has been waiting for 6 months now. What has other peoples experience that live in BC interms of access to genetic testing?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited April 2021

    I'm in Ontario, not BC, so I can't answer specific to BC. But I have a couple of questions. Who did your daughter request the testing from? Has she gone to a genetic counsellor? And does the person she requested through know that you've tested positive?

    Genetic testing for someone who has a family member who has already tested positive is much easier and should be quicker than full genetic testing, because they only have to look for the one very specific BRCA2 mutation rather that have, rather than comb through hundreds or thousands of mutations.

    From my experience in Ontario, the quickest route is through a genetic counsellor, who can assess the risk and then do the test on the spot. Then it's just the processing time

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  • Charlierun
    Charlierun Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2021

    Hi Beesie, Thanks, you raised some good points. I will clarify what the hold up is with my daughter as I think she was waiting for a referral from her new physician as she moved to Penticton a year ago. But I actually don't know if the referral is to a geneticist or an oncologist. I gather a family Physician is not authorized to order the blood test. So much to learn and I am anxious for my daughter to know what her BRCA2 status is so that she can at least start the higher surveillence.


    .

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited April 2021

    Charlierun, are you in BC as well or not?

    I'm in BC & had genetic testing & met with a genetic counsellor right after my early stage surgery. If I'd tested positive, she said she would have invited my children for an info session with her. I'm wondering if you're out of province and that's why there's a glitch in the routine?


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  • Charlierun
    Charlierun Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2021

    Hi moth, My son and I live in Alberta while my daughter lives in British Columbia. My sons genetic counsellor set up an appointment in Calgary to test my husband and I to determine which parent he inherited the BRCA2 mutation from two years ago. It all happened really quickly and I discovered at the age of 65 that I was BRCA2 positive . My daughter has lived in BC for the past 15 years and has been waiting to hear back from her GP about genetic testing . As I mentioned earlier it looks like I should check out with my daughter about where the referral was sent . I have a phone appointment with my genetic counselor on Monday and I will ask her if she can do anything from Alberta to help speed up the process ,(probably highly unlikely)
    I am curious about how long people wait in BC for testing when two close family members are BRCA2 positive?


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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited April 2021

    this page has all the info. Looks like she can self refer if necessary http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/services/he...


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  • Charlierun
    Charlierun Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2021

    Hi moth, Thanks so much ! I sent her the link and we are both pleased to hear about the self referral ! She mentioned she had filled out a similar form two years ago at her doctors office and has never been contacted for genetic testing by anyone She has a new family physician but one would hope they would contact her via cell phone as that number hasn't changed even though she has moved.

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  • sasamat
    sasamat Member Posts: 53
    edited April 2021

    I recently did Invitae's high risk breast and ovarian panel via the Screen Project (I also live in BC):

    https://thescreenproject.ca/

    You can just sign up, get a saliva collection kit, send it back in, get results. All within 2-3 weeks. I sensed that getting a BRCA1/2 test through the provincial system was going to take months or years for me and wanted to just get on with it.

    You do have to pay for this yourself (about $300 CDN), but it was worth it to me to accelerate things.

    If this cost-benefit analysis resonates, that is at least another way forward.

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  • Charlierun
    Charlierun Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2021

    Hi sasamat, Thanks, that's another great option we will check out! As a BRCA2 positive Mom I am finding all the waiting incredibly stressful. With a 5O % chance of my children inheriting this mutation I feel the sooner they know their status the better! Theycan then make life saving decisions whether it be surveillance or prophylactic surgery.

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  • Charlierun
    Charlierun Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2021

    Hi moth, I received great news from my daughter in BC today. After you had mentioned she could do a self referral for genetic testing in British Columbia, she did exactly that. Today she received a phone call from a Genetic Counsellor in BC and they were appalled that she’s been waiting for two years to receive a response from them. Apparently they never received her referral from her previous family doctor for whatever reason. She was informed that normally it would be a three month wait but because of how long she has been waiting already they plan to do her genetic testing fairly soon. I want to express how extremely grateful I am for your valuable input along with everyone else here who responded to my post! Thank-you!!!

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited April 2021

    Great news, I hope it turns out she didn't get the faulty gene- but if she did - and for you (and your son too) there is an organization for people with genetic mutations call FORCE great place for specific support and information.

    https://www.facingourrisk.org/

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited April 2021

    hi charlierun, oh I'm glad things are moving finally. Happy that you reached out to us and we were able to help! Fingers crossed she gets good results. Best wishes to you

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