Discovering a Family History

I am glad I did have the genetic testing.  It is guiding my treatment and has also prompted other at risk family members to be tested.  They are now publicly funded ( I had to pay) as their risk is proven by my BRACA2 status.

Dear Lunanoire,

I too got a surprise when diagnosed with bc a year after Mum died from it. She had talked openly to us in latter years about the need to keep slim ( i wish) and need to have regular mammograms. Thanks god I did because otherwise I would not be here now.

The surprise was just how much cancer was in my family on both sides and that a family friend advised genetic testing. this was done for my sister soon after my surgery and for me once all treatment complete some 18 m later. 

Thankfully neither of us has the brca gene. If I did carry it, I would have had a prophylactic oophrectomy and probably double mestectomy. 

It is a pity so many families don't talk openly about cancer, other chronic &/or psychiatric issues and so many other medical conditions which if diagnosed early have a far better prognosis. Maybe then too instead of fearing the dreaded C and avoiding getting screening tests, many would be educated that nowadays many of us live a long and productive life, that surgery for most is breast conserving and indeed may enhance what God gave us, maybe we also need to talk about palliation and how that can mean an easier, less painful end of life. I am advocating for better palliative care, more nurses and medical staff in hopsitals, nursing homes etc who know about lymphoedema diagnosis and treatment, palliative care and end of life issues long before required. (sorry about the soapbox)

wishing you all well in your cancer journey and the upcoming prophylatic surgery which means you wont have the stress so many of us have each year when we go for our mammorgam & ultrasound or other diagnostic tests. 

Please don't avoid the bowel cancer test we get every 5 years from age 50 either

your pink sister,

Carol

Congrats NB for being in remission and what a fantastic early Xmas present.  The aunty who underwent a double mastectomy was originally only scheduled to have a single mastectomy however her gut told her otherwise.  I might investigate genetic testing just to be on the safe side.

I guess one positive thing about my diagnosis is that the family is starting to talk openly about BC and this family connection.  I have two brothers, each of who have daughters.  I just hope that this gene mutation ends with me.

Hi and best wishes to you on your treatment journey.  I also discovered a family history involving a high incidence of breast cancer after my diagnosis at 42yo in October 2014.  I have since undergone chemo (1st step of my treatment), surgery and radiotherapy.  Prior to diagnosis I was aware my maternal aunt was diagnosed in her early 50's.  I was also aware there was quite a lot of cancer in my maternal grandfather's family but didn't know the full extent until investigating it in preparation for genetic testing which I chose to pursue.  No one really encouraged me to pursue genetic testing and the genetic counsellor admitted when my positive result came back that she was surprised - I wasn't.  Turns out my mother's cousin died at 34yo from breast cancer (she would be in her 80's if alive now so I am sure her treatment was not comparable to todays but she was still very young to be diagnosed).  My mother had three aunts on her dad's side two of whom developed breast cancer, one at 36yo, not sure of age of diagnosis of the second.  Not surprisingly genetic testing showed I have the BRACA2 mutation.  This information did change my treatment and the results were rushed through prior to my surgery to allow for the outcome to be considered in choosing the type of surgery I would undergo.  Instead of a lumpectomy as initially anticipated, I had a mastectomy to reduce the risk of a new cancer in the future.  Having finished radiotherapy my active treatment is now over and I will have a mastectomy on the non-cancer affected side in a few weeks.  My ovaries will also be removed at the end of the year when I have my reconstructive surgery completed with implants.  My surgeon would not do a double mastectomy at the time of my first surgery (as I had hoped to get all of this over and done with asap) as she wanted to focus just on treating my cancer to begin with....... no point putting my immune surpressed newly post chemo body through non urgent surgery.

 I am very glad to have undergone genetic testing and to be able to take preventative steps for any new breast and ovarian cancers which are an increased risk for those of us with genetic cancers, but understand not everyone wants to go down this path.

 I have recently been told I can call myself in remission and am looking forward to my perky new boobs by Xmas!

Sending you all the very best of luck and a speedy recovery!

Hi, sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your family history. BC is a family curse in my family as well. On  my maternal side. Unlike you, it has been talked about in my family, so much so that when I was diagnosed I wasn't shocked, just sad. My grandmother, mother, sister and 3 aunts (one with a double mastectomy) all suffered throughout the years. It is quite interesting to see how much treatment has changed over time. It ended up taking the lives of all of them except my sister who is now 18 years cancer free. My sister and I have had genetic testing and the only thing we discovered was that I have a clinically unknown variant in my BRCA 2 gene. More research is needed. Best wishes for your operation and treatment, 

Hazel xx