Heredity Question
Hi Warriors, I am new here and do not have Breast Cancer. I have a lump, have had it mammogrammed for a few years now yearly. Each year at these mammograms, it does not show up on the mammogram b...
Forum Discussion
I saw a genetic counsellor as my father had 3 sisters who had ovarian cancer and one of those also had 2 primary breast cancers. The belief was my grandmother also had ovarian cancer...but she was never formally diagnosed. Those sister had daughters that went on to develop ovarian cancer.
First thing is to draw the tree and map out who had what. If your grandmother had a gene there is a 50% possibility your father inherited it. If he is positive...you have a 50% chance of inheriting it. If the faulty gene was from your grandfather's side the chance remains at 50%. Just to confuse it of course is even if you inherit the gene it doesn't mean you will go on to develop cancer.
I had gene testing against my scottish family because of the known BRAC1 risk. Ideally if my father had still been alive he would have been tested. As he wasn't all his children have been and we now know his children did not inherit the gene. Great news for my children and nieces and nephews.
My sister from another father had breast cancer and her daughter also. They were gene tested and found to be negative. However as new genes are discovered they will be retested and if positive to one I will be also retested.
At this stage it is just considered I am an unlucky 1 in 8 or have an as yet unidentified genetic risk. However the genetics team recommended all 5 other sisters seek the expertise of a breast surgeon to review breast density and develop an appropriate schedule to aide detection. This might involve breast MRIs every 2 years. My cancer was invisible in mammogram 5 weeks prior developing a palpable lump.
So I recommend you talk to your GP and have a referral to a breast surgeon and a genetic specialist for advise. If nothing more they can assist in allying fears.
Kath x
First thing is to draw the tree and map out who had what. If your grandmother had a gene there is a 50% possibility your father inherited it. If he is positive...you have a 50% chance of inheriting it. If the faulty gene was from your grandfather's side the chance remains at 50%. Just to confuse it of course is even if you inherit the gene it doesn't mean you will go on to develop cancer.
I had gene testing against my scottish family because of the known BRAC1 risk. Ideally if my father had still been alive he would have been tested. As he wasn't all his children have been and we now know his children did not inherit the gene. Great news for my children and nieces and nephews.
My sister from another father had breast cancer and her daughter also. They were gene tested and found to be negative. However as new genes are discovered they will be retested and if positive to one I will be also retested.
At this stage it is just considered I am an unlucky 1 in 8 or have an as yet unidentified genetic risk. However the genetics team recommended all 5 other sisters seek the expertise of a breast surgeon to review breast density and develop an appropriate schedule to aide detection. This might involve breast MRIs every 2 years. My cancer was invisible in mammogram 5 weeks prior developing a palpable lump.
So I recommend you talk to your GP and have a referral to a breast surgeon and a genetic specialist for advise. If nothing more they can assist in allying fears.
Kath x