Genetic Testing Cancer Risk
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Anonymous
| I had it done about 13 years ago bc my mom died of breast cancer. Found out I was BRCA 2+. It was very empowering as the pp said bc I could do something to prevent myself from getting breast cancer. It also meant that my mom was positive too. An acquaintance of hers had told me years later that she waited too long to go to the dr. Now that I know more about metastatic breast cancer, I know that she did everything right and she was just unlucky so knowing her cancer was initially genetic gave me some peace if that makes sense. |
Anonymous
| Is there a way to do it anonymously |
Anonymous
You can tested through color.com |
jsmith123
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Please don't get a random test like this without a counselor. |
Anonymous
You know nothing about this company. They provide genetic counseling and their results are accepted by the doctors. |
Anonymous
| I had it done last year as part of the information we were gathering to manage breast condition they put me in a higher risk group for cancer (LCIS.) I found the process of talking to the counselor pretty interesting, there were aspects to my family history I hadn’t considered. I had some choice about how extensive I wanted the testing to be and I really did think about that. I decided I didn’t want to know “everything” just genetic risk for things related to breast and GYN cancers. If you go down that road you really need to think about what you will do with the information once you have it. Because you’ll have different options if you screen positive that include monitoring, preventive procedures etc. You will also be in the “now you know” situation which for some is great and others very anxiety producing. So really think about that and if this is information you want. Honestly my biggest concern was how to talk to my daughter about it if I had screened positive. Good luck to you. |
Anonymous
| I was tested several years after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time (the cancers occurred in different breasts, which is a signal that They were likely caused by a genetic mutation). Mom was tested and has a genetic mutation. My sister and I were both tested; I have the mutation, but my sis does not. I had the bloodwork and genetic counseling done at MD Anderson. I also go to MDA every 6 months for an exam and imaging. Interestingly, this genetic mutation can cause terrible birth defects if you mate with another carrier. It can also cause a higher incidence of prostate cancer. So all of my kids will need to be tested as they get older and think about starting families. I do think it is better to know and stay on top of these things. My adult daughter is in the process of being tested. |
Anonymous
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What kinds of cancers and the ages at death?
I'm a cancer researcher and my husband has a crazy family history two died in their 40s from brain cancer and melanoma of the eye. Two survived colon cancer and a third survived prostate cancer. Literally every member of his family on that side had cancer. Unfortunately for my husband there is no clear pattern. His family could have something majorly wrong (tumor suppressor deletion) but I highly doubt anything would be definitively identified and if it were there wouldn't be a cure. Cancer therapy is like a sledge hammer. Kill it before it kills you. I just encourage my husband to get early and often screenings. |
Anonymous
My family has the BRCA 2 mutation and has had tons of different cancers, including pancreatic (both types, neuroendocrine and adenocarcinoma), colon, brain, skin, ovarian, lung, and liver. I am taking the sledge hammer approach myself. It’s just strange because BRCA is most often associated with breast cancer and we have none. I was shocked when we had a positive BRCA mutation in the family. |
Anonymous
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Would be cautious about moving forward prior to the next SCOTUS ruling on the ACA.
But if/when you do, I would look for a program like the Fisher Center at Georgetown -- combines testing, counseling, research |
Anonymous
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I did it through Genetic counselor since both my parents died young of secondary cancers unrelated to the first (mom breast then unrelated/non-smoking lung, dad stomach then pancreatic).
I am glad I did it. Absolutely nothing showed up so while that is good in some sense it is terrifying in another since we either have something that is unidentifiable or just normal genes which are sensitive to cellular changes. Blech. |
Anonymous
He did 23andme and was BRCA negative... |
Anonymous
I’d recommend the Color test or a genetic counselor because 23andme only tests for the most common types of BRCA mutations (known as the “founder” mutations). Lots of people get false positives with 23andme.. my BRCA 2 mutation is not one of the ones it tests for. Dangerous stuff. |
Anonymous
| I’m sorry, I meant false negatives ^^ |
Anonymous
Same here, I am brca2+, FDR with pancreatic cancer |