Genetic Testing... Would You Do It?

I would, yes. Because I am the sort of person who likes to know what to expect and what I can do. I wouldn't want to live in fear though, but would probably do anything preventative possible. I just don't like the whole "fate" concept.

Do you really need to at this point? Your maternal grandmother had it, your mother, unfortunately, most likely will be fighting it (soooo sorry about that, by the way), it's almost guarranteed you have the gene for it...

Instead of spending money on the testing, why not spend it on preventing or preparing to fight it if (God forbid) you end up with it? Or, spend it on a cause that helps to fight it...

I really hope that didn't come across harsh - it wasn't meant to at all. I really do empathize with your situation, I just would focus on prevention rather than trying to "know" if you'll eventually get it.

Nope, I wouldnt want to know, and dont want to know...My OB has tried to pressure me into it since my mom died from cancer, my aunt and my grandmother also had it but survived. If they show I carry the gene, it doesn't mean it will grow into cancer or that I will die from it. I take preventitive measures anyway, so why live feeling like I have a time bomb in me.

It will show that you have a predisposition for cancer with markers x y z.
Is this going to do you any good? It might. But you can't live your life in the "what if" stage forever. Will you have the money to pay for the testing? Insurance companies might but they may limit what they will cover once they know about this.

Be diligent in your safety checks every month and know that if you feel something off run to the doctor don't wait and don't put yourself as last in health care. Sorry to be so blunt about this but I am a 14 year breast cancer survivor. Just make sure you answer the questions that they ask about family history.

Remember you are your own advocate when it comes to health.

I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts for this holiday season.

The other S.

Yes no doubt about it...Hope all turns out well

They should test your mother for the gene if her biopsy shows cancer. If she doesn't have the gene, then you probably don't although you could inherit it from your father.

My family is going through this now. My mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer. They automatically tested her for the gene. She tested positive for the breast cancer gene even though there is no history of breast cancer in her family. Her father died of cancer so we assume it came from his side of the family. He only had brothers and his mother died very young from something else so we don't know much about their medical history.

Because my mother has the gene, my understanding is that me and my siblings have a 50% chance of having the gene which would increase our chance of getting breast cancer to about 70-80%. There isn't much you can do to prevent it just detect it early. The main way to prevent it if you have the gene is to have your ovaries and fallopian tubes removed and have your breasts removed.

I will have the test because I can't live with stress of not knowing. If it comes back positive I don't know what I will do but I have 3 small children, the youngest of which is 3 weeks old and I want to do everything I can to make sure that I am around to see them grow up.

It would be preferable if someone in the family who has/had cancer pursues testing first. If that person's test result is informative (i.e. they identify a mutation in a gene that is associated with an increased risk for specific cancer(s)), other at-risk relatives could be offered targeted testing (for the known familial mutation). If someone who has not had cancer pursues testing first and his/her test result is negative/normal, the implications of the test result may be unclear (i.e. you don't know that you tested for the correct thing, etc.) I suggest that you meet with a genetic counselor if/when you would like to discuss the benefits and limitations of testing. In the meantime, I send all good wishes to your and your parents.

I would. With the new health care recommendations coming out of needing a pap every 3 years... Well who knows how often they will say you need to have a mammogram?

Absolutely! Now, if you carry the gene, it's not 100% certain that you'll develop the same thing... same as even if you don't, it's not certain you're off the hook.

BUT, and this is just how I am, if I could get tested for everything and anything that runs in my family, I would, just to have that personal knowledge, if not for me, for my daughters as they grow into adults.

I would not. I would pray purposefully and diligently. Even harder I would think positively. Beyond that just because you carry the gene doesn't mean you are 100% certain to get breast cancer, and I wouldn't want to live with worry day in and day out for something that my never come. Secondly, just because you don't carry the gene doesn't mean you 100% won't develop at some point in your lifetime breast ca, and I wouldn't want that false security.
I would however be diligent in my regular screenings, and maybe screen with more frequency than the individual with no risk.
bottom line* self exam, self exam, self exam* and don't ignore A. symptom no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is.
Positive thinking goes far!!!
Good luck

I would not have genetic testing because there is nothing new that I could do. If one tested positive one would stay on top of regular screenings. I would do that anyway.

I would not be willing to have my breasts removed to prevent something that may or may not happen.

For this, yes I would. Is it a question of insurance coverage or avoiding the possibilities? There are so many genetic tests available currently that are amazing, some companies will use scare tactics for expectant mothers to have them test for hundreds of tests that are not relevant.

There are several markers that can be tested for, I agree that your mother should be tested as mentioned below. If it were be I would be talking with a genetic counselor.

I may be biased because I am a testing specialist for a national lab...to me knowledge is power!

nope bc i would worry more if i knew i had it

Yes.

Because of a cancer I have I was enrolled in a genetic study and received a huge amount of data about my genetics including risk for other cancers, Parkinson's, alzheimers, vision issues, etc. Although one genetic risk is especially alarming to me, I have calmed down about it and will do all the healthy lifestyle things I should be doing knowing the lifestyle changes REDUCES risk. It was motivation for me, and I do not regret looking at the results.

If I were a high anxiety, pessimistic, or depressive person who tended to be dramatic... whatever... I probably would have been better off not seeing the results, but I am more the type of person that is curious, loves to learn, and although I am a more of a realist than an optimist, I am far from pessimistic. I feel more information is better than less.

If it turns out that your mother's mass is cancer, I think that you should get the genetic testing done. Forewarned is forearmed. Having the testing done does not mean that you have to make an instant decision about what you will do, but it gives you very important information that can help you come to a healthy decision. Moreover, if you do carry the BCRA, wouldn't you want to know so that you can tell your children (particularly daughters) so that they can be proactive about their breast health? Another thing to remember is that carrying the gene puts you at significantly greater RISK, that does not mean that it will certainly happen.