Gene testing

[Anonymous]

FruminousBandersnatch wrote:An article that shows you may want to be careful what you ask for -

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/5975653/with-genetic-testing-i-gave-my-parents-the-gift-of-divorce-23andme

A genetics professor got his family to all do the test together and they unexpectedly identified a half-sibling that was the result of parental cheating.

Lolz Lolz
And then there is insurance discrimination- prohibited but still I want insure you

[Anonymous]

Anyone know what cancers can be "identified" through genetic testing and who do you go to for such testing? Inquiring as I have/had 2 immediate family members with the same cancer and am interested in learning more about potential genes (more so for my kids)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mother tested positive for the BRCA gene when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in her late 50s. All of her doctors were shocked it took so long for her to get breast cancer, as most women who carry the gene get it earlier. We have a lot of breast cancer in the family, including five of my great-aunts who died of it (my grandfather was one of 14 kids); undoubtedly some of them were also BRCA carriers. She'd already had a double mastectomy, but she got her ovaries removed after the test, too. I had a 50/50 chance of being BRCA positive based on her result and elected to get myself tested right away. I had a newborn at the time, and felt that I had to know if I also carried the gene. I'm negative, thankfully, but if it had come back positive, I would have gotten a prophylactic double mastectomy and ovary removal once our family was complete. I still have to be monitored closely due to strong family history and will undergo additional genetic testing if it becomes available.

Did you consider adoption so as to not pass on the gene?

PP here. I had a newborn son at the time my mom discovered she had the gene. Males can carry the BRCA gene and if they have it, it puts them at an elevated risk for prostate cancer, but it's less of a risk than for women. If it had been positive, I suspect my husband and I would have decided against having more biological children, in part because I would have wanted to undergo the surgeries ASAP, or at least once I was done nursing and was medically cleared to do so. I'm not sure if adoption would have been in the cards for us, but maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what cancers can be "identified" through genetic testing and who do you go to for such testing? Inquiring as I have/had 2 immediate family members with the same cancer and am interested in learning more about potential genes (more so for my kids)

The ones I know of are BRCA1, Lynch syndrome genes and APC (colon cancer) that have the strongest links to developing cancer. Your genetic counselor would know more and those related to the specific cancer in your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what cancers can be "identified" through genetic testing and who do you go to for such testing? Inquiring as I have/had 2 immediate family members with the same cancer and am interested in learning more about potential genes (more so for my kids)

Here's a link to a genetic testing fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/genetic-testing

[Anonymous]

Even though I am BRCA negative, as is my maternal aunt (breast cancer), and paternal aunt (breast cancer), I opted for a prophylactic double mastectomy. My mother died of breast cancer at 48, and other cancers are rampant in my family. All of my doctors agreed it was a good choice, despite my negative result. As a PP stated, we really are just discovering the tip of the iceberg, and mine was a compelling case.