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bmunn88's avatar
bmunn88
Member
11 years ago

Family Genes you Cant Choose

Hello Everyone, This is a blog I wrote Feb 2014

Knowing that you will get breast cancer but don’t know when is a scary thing….

My Family has a strong history of breast cancer. Every female on my mothers side has had it. My mum has only just come out of her second batch.

I myself have had 3 scares at the ages of 19, 21 and 23. 5 years ago I made the decision to have a full double mastectomy and breast implants…. but its not as easy as it sounds!

After numerous visits to difference doctors I finally got a referral to the SA familiar Gene Clinic to be tested in 2011. After being on an extremely long waiting list I finally received an appointment late 2013. I woke up the morning of my appointment thinking ‘this is it’ ‘this is the start of getting my referral for my surgery to save my life’

I was so wrong….. After sitting at Flinders Medical Centre for 2 hours I finally got the see the physiologist who went thought the gene testing process and made sure I could handle the information. After this the Gene Doctor finally entered the room.. “we have tested you mother before and didn’t find the gene your family has, it will be a waist of our money to test you, we will retest your mother. goodbye”. I was devastated!

In the end they did retest my mother but they are unable to find our gene. BUT, they have identified there is a fault in our gene that is causing the breast cancer and I have this in writing, but it took longer that I would like.

I finally find a doctor in Mildura who is on my side and agrees I have made the correct choice and he sends me to a surgeon in my local area who apparently will do the procedure and get the ball rolling. Yes it was finally getting easy and I wasn’t being shut down. again…. I was wrong.

My Partner at the time and I went to this appointment. “no one here will help you” “I remove breasts not replace them” “your too young”. I think I know my body and what I need to do. $170 later I walked out upset. My Partner says he saw me almost jump over the desk and rip the doctor by this tie.

The upside to this he has written me a referral letter to the Flinders Medical Centre Breast Clinic, I’ve called them and have asked to see my Mums surgeon.  He knows my family history and what we have been through as a family. The only downside is last time I spoke to him he advised he would be happy to do the procedure but wanted me to wait until I am 30. But I don’t want to wait.

I have ticking time bombs on my chest and cannot wait for that stress to be lifted

That was only one of the hurdles I have faced. Yes I am young but Breast Cancer can strike at any age.
I don’t want to wait for it

Thank you for reading :)

family
surgery

4 Replies

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  • melp27's avatar
    melp27
    Member
    11 years ago

    So sorry you were treated that way!! I have a sort of similar story. I had my genetic testing at the royal adelaide near the end of my treatment and they did find a genetic fault in my family too. Both aunties had breast cancer one even died of it (they were both older than me when they were diagnosed.)

    It was still a shock but it did give me a reason why i got the cancer in the first place. When they traced our family tree we discovered it came from my dads side. It wasnt either of the BRCA genes but a less similar genetic fault that is in the Pten gene called cowdens syndrome.

    hope it all works out for you xx

  • melp27's avatar
    melp27
    Member
    11 years ago

    So sorry you were treated that way!! I have a sort of similar story. I had my genetic testing at the royal adelaide near the end of my treatment and they did find a genetic fault in my family too. Both aunties had breast cancer one even died of it (they were both older than me when they were diagnosed.)

    It was still a shock but it did give me a reason why i got the cancer in the first place. When they traced our family tree we discovered it came from my dads side. It wasnt either of the BRCA genes but a less similar genetic fault that is in the Pten gene called cowdens syndrome.

    hope it all works out for you xx

  • Hazel_M's avatar
    Hazel_M
    Member
    11 years ago

    Sorry to hear your family's history is so tragic. I am No. 7 in the family since my maternal grandmother to have gotten this disease. I am down for genetic testing but haven't heard yet. I am 54 years old and I'm thinking if they find the gene I will deal with that as it comes. I think you are doing the right thing being proactive about this. I always knew the time would come when I would face breast cancer, year after year going for mammograms and for me it was only a matter of time before it happened. When it was discovered I thought 'well, looks like this year (2013) is the year' no shock, no surprise. Because you are so young I wouldn't wish that on you. I hope that everything works out for you, you are entitled to do what you want, it's your body, it's your life, big hugs to you.

    Hazel xx

  • Hazel_M's avatar
    Hazel_M
    Member
    11 years ago

    Sorry to hear your family's history is so tragic. I am No. 7 in the family since my maternal grandmother to have gotten this disease. I am down for genetic testing but haven't heard yet. I am 54 years old and I'm thinking if they find the gene I will deal with that as it comes. I think you are doing the right thing being proactive about this. I always knew the time would come when I would face breast cancer, year after year going for mammograms and for me it was only a matter of time before it happened. When it was discovered I thought 'well, looks like this year (2013) is the year' no shock, no surprise. Because you are so young I wouldn't wish that on you. I hope that everything works out for you, you are entitled to do what you want, it's your body, it's your life, big hugs to you.

    Hazel xx