Sunday, February 8, 2009

What do you think about the "breast cancer gene test

What do you think about the "breast cancer gene test"?
My sister and I were told that because our mother was diagnosed at age 29 with breast cancer and died from it at age 39 that we need to get the test. We are both scared because we don't want to know if we carry the gene or not. What good can come from getting the test?
Cancer - 2 Answers
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1 :
If it's true that there is a gene and you have it, you might become better armed with information about prevention. Personally, I think if you are going to get it, you are going to get it. Incidentally, I recently read that women taking hormones (supposedly for menopause) were much more likely to get breast cancer. To me this is just another reminder that somethings (like menopause) are naturally occuring and that not everything needs a pill. I wish you the best; if I were in your shoes, I think I would get the test done, just to be one step ahead of the game.
2 :
For you and other readers (even though it was not your question) the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests for breast cancer are not a diagnosis of cancer, merely a test to detect if a mutation has occured at a point in your "code" that is common among those individuals who have breast cancer. There is also testing done for ovarian cancer as their is a strong link between breast and ovarian cancers across generations. Now back to your question specifically, if you do not want to know what your BRCA test results are for personal reasons, you do not have to have it performed...'nuff said. However, (and I hedge this without reviewing your moms case) due to the early onset of your mother's disease and failure at 10 years, it isn't a stretch to believe you are at an increased risk for breast/ovarian cancer over and above the 1 in 8 lifetime risk females are already gambling with, right?. As to the benefit of the test, if you are found to have mutations in the BRCA testing process, and you were wanting to take care of a potential problem...given your family history (as you presented it here...how about aunts, grandmothers, sisters, etc?) you could be a candidate for a i.e. prophylactic mastectomy type of treatment regimen for disease that may be present but at a "pre-clinical" presenting stage. I wish you luck with your decision and please do not hold yourself hostage if you decide to not do it, you can always have it done later...but please, please perform self exams and see your physician regularly...and also maintain the annual screening mammogram regimen recommended by your doctors. Good luck

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