Just wondered if there’s anyone else out there who’s found out they got the BRCA genes but doesn’t have a family history of cancer.
I understand it’s uncommon but story of my life (or at least this years life anyway LOL).
Angie
Hi Angie
I have family history and no gene fault identified! Opposite to you I guess. lol.
How did you come to find this out?
Jackie x
Hey Jackie.
Actually it’s because I asked if it could be genetic and while the surgeon thought not because of the lack of family history he agreed that I sohuld at least talk to the genetics people and see what they say, they thought that odds of 2 primary BC’s at the age of 33 meant that I fitted all the criteria for their prognostic index ie a likely candidate so took bloods and to my surprise the results came back after only 3 months after having been told it would most likely be at least 6 months but they found the gene pretty quickly in my case.
Hey Vertangie,
I am thinking about gene testing because my Sister is in a real state and convinced that she is going to get Bc also.
( shes a bit depressive )
My Mum died young of Heart failure last year but she had an undiagnosed breast lump at the time so no way of knowing if it might be in the family. But no other history apart from my Dads sister but i,ve been told that would run in the maternal side. Also my BCN said that a genetic link has to start somewhere and her theory is a bad gene from a Mother and Father could make a BC gene in offspring. There is alot of research into this at the moment.
I was 38 at DX (may 07) and being tested would be beneficial for my 2 young daughters too. Do you think that they might consider it for me?
love Andrea xx
I would ask Andrea, as you have daughters.
It certainly can come down the fathers side of the family and it is even possible to have the gene without either parent having it but I understand that is very rare. What have you got to lose from asking.
A lot of it depends on how big your family is too as having a small family means that the gene could be there but not actually causing a lot of cancer where as having a large family and no history of BC means that you’re statistically unlikely to have the gene if that makes sense.
Hi All
You may be interested in our factsheet on the subject of breast cancer in families. I have given the link here, it can be either downloaded or ordered through the site.
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bc_in_families__final_12_june_08_layout_1_0.pdf
Hope you find it a usefull read.
Kind regards
Louise
Facilitator
Hi all I have just been diagnosed last Thursday, it was a big shock as I can go back 4 generations and no one had B C ! ( apart from ME it seems ).
caron
Hi Caron.
It really is quite a jolt isn’t it. At least you now know the cause of the the tumour/cancer… genetic predisposition. Not much consolation is it? I’m intrigued to find out how the gene mutation occurs.
Hope you’re coping with the news OK. It’s just part of the background noise to me already.
Angie
Hi
my sister and I both had bc aged 44 with no other family history. Although I was refused genetic testing as there was no family history I took part in some research and BRCA 2 was found. Mum and dad were then tested and it was discovered it came from dad’s side, extended family now in process of being tested. It is interesting as one of his sister’s is positive while the other is negative. No explanations as it why bc has shown up now and not in previous generations.
Jane