Hi
Im new to this forum, i have a question… I dont have breast cancer but my dads two sisters ( my aunties ) have and now have bc , one of there daughters had bc ( my cousin ) and my dads dad ( my grandad ) two sisters also had bc and died and one of there daughters had bc and died, so do i have a more likely chance of having bc?? as it runs down my dads side , my family on that side are the braca 1 carriers i dont know if my dad was as he has recently died due to something else.
I have a appointment at hospital in mid sept for my test …but was just wondering what the chances were? Also wanting baby no 3 and wasnt sure what to do …if to wait for the test to see if i have the faulty gene or not?
If anyone understands all this could they let me know?
Thanx
Hi Jade
Welcome to the forums, here is the link to a factsheet published by Breast Cancer Care which may help you to understand more about familial breast cancer, you can read it online or download and print a copy:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/familial_breast_cancer
_updated_may_06_0.pdf
Also, please feel free to call our team of specialist nurses on the helpline for support and advice on 0808 800 6000, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi jade27
I don’t think anyone can calculate your risk other than a geneticist. They usually get you to complete a form beforehand listing all the members of your family with a cancer diagnosis. They will want to know their names, relation to you, their dates of birth, age at diagnosis, whether they’re still alive, where they were treated etc, whether you have any Jewish ancestry. They will interpret your family’s history in line with the behavioural patterns of BRCA1 and estimate the likelihood of you beinga BRCA1 carrier as a percentage (which they should be able to tell you there and then). Again, they can give an indication of the chance of your children inheriting the gene before test results. The tests take ages, but I believe they can be quicker if they are running a match against a sample of a family member known to have BRCA1 mutation, as opposed for looking for it blindly.
Hope this helps.
x
hiya, sorry you are in this positionn, there was a potential of brca1 mutation in our family due to my dad’s side although no-one close to be had bc but ovarian, however mums side, her sister and aunt has it so I was worried, had a meeting a while ago and cos no-one had cancer to check, i.e. it wasnt anyone alive to test as they were further back that I would get scans from age of 35, unfortunately I found it on my 35th birthday but at least now I can be tested and can hopefully find the gene so that others in family can be tested.
Hope it goes well for you, they are good at looking at the family tree and going through the process
xx
Hi
I asked for testing due to lots of BC, ovarian and leukaemia on my mums side. No mutation or gene fault was found but due to the number of relatives to have had cancer I was told to assume I was at high risk despite the blood test result.
I have had preventative mastectomies with reconstruction and I am waiting to have my ovaries removed later this year. I am 40 and have completed my family. Be prepared for a long drawn out process, I waited approx 3 years from asking for testing to surgery. It was the toughest decision I have ever made and at the time I had not discovered these forums, but I found talking to a lady who had undergone preventative surgery the most helpful. Most friends said they would do the same if given a high risk, but until you are in that position it is not that easy to put your healthy body through such major surgery. 7 weeks on I do not regret a thing and I am relieved it is over (almost).
Good luck in your decision making, I am sure you will get lots of support on here.
Jackie.
Although there has been a lot of bc on your Dad’s side, it could be that your Dad didn’t inherit the gene, in which case you wouldn’t have inherited it either. But the only way to knbow for certain is to take the test, at a time in your life which suits you. But I really hope that out of 3 siblings, your Dad escaped the gene. At the moment, try just to take a step at a time-decide if you’re ready to have this information, and don’t worry too much at present about what you would do if you get a positive diagnosis. Good luck with it all-hope you get some good news!
HI. I am new to this site and after reading a few comments i feel as if for the first time i am not alone. I was told last month that i have the BRCA1 gene. I have been going for screening since i was 26 and i am not 34. I always thought i had it but its a whole different ball game when its confirmed. I am so confused i don’t know what my next steps should be. I have seen so many family members suffer and i don’t want to put my own family through that but i am also terrified of getting surgery especially that i have 2 young boys to look after. has anyone else went through surgery with a young family and how do you cope with such drastic surgery and changes to your body? i know it likely sound ridiculous that i should be bothering about body changes. any advice would be appreciated.
hi jade and weeyin, i recently joined this forum and think its amazing. i am brca2 carrier which was passed from my dad. he has 2 sisters and both also have faulty gene, his dad died of cancer and grandads 2 brothers died of cancer. i am now at risk of passing to my children 50/50 chance. i am early 30’s and weeyin in regards to how u cope i donr know u just seem to deal with it somehow. it is so hard as its like a ticking timebomb waiting to go off. my children are 12 and 11yrs old and it is hard. i had ovaries removed 4weeks ago and am in menopause now and am setting date at end of sept for double mastectomy.but regarding the kids if u do have surgery the great reassurance is u wont develop cancer and also will continue to be monitored constantly. and thats where i take reassurance. but it is really really hard and i find that i have about 10 different faces at times 1 for the kids,husband,family etc and when they arent there i can be myself with my own thoughts and tears. can i ask where yous are based as i am near glasgow and am going to try and arrange a get together if possible as we are all dealing with the same thing and its good to know your not alone just if anyone is interested x
Hi Weeyin
This year I have had risk reducing surgery, mastectomy’s and reconstruction. I am 40 years old and although my children are not young I am a single parent with 2 teenagers, 2 jobs, 2 dogs and a horse. I wont pretend it has been easy but it has not been anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be. I am a nurse and I had some insight which can sometimes make it harder.
I can sympathise with exactly how you are feeling right now, to put your healthy body through such drastic surgery is not easy to do. I think your next step is to ask to be referred to a breast surgeon who will disscuss your options to you and which forms of reconstruction are available to you. The most useful thing to me was to chat to other women who have been through it for the same reason, you will find plenty on here but maybe ask your breast care nurse if you could meet anyone locally. I live in Kent and I was put in touch with a lady who had preventative surgery a few years ago.
I am now 10 weeks post my second op and going back to work in 10 days. I am both pleased and relieved I made the decision to go ahead. I will be having nipple recon later this year and ovaries removed early next year probably.
It is not at all ridiculous that you should be bothering about body changes, it has taken some getting used to and for a while I wasnt able to look in the mirror with ease but gradually it gets easier. During all this I have met a man and started a new relationship.
It is a big decision to make so if you have any specific questions, however silly they may seem, just ask. I have had more support from this site than I immagined and just reading some of the threads is enough of a reminder as to why I put myself through this surgery.
Jackie xx
hi im jude im 35 and a brca1 carrier found out 2years ago and had preventive oopherectomy
i knew we had a gene mutation it was obvious
great gran had ovarian nan died at 30 with ovarian my mum died at 45 with ovarian and my sister had breast cancer at 28 very aggresive cancer she had masectomy and hysterectomy
im considering double masectomy and immediate reconstruction
im guna get this b******* before it gets me
im the lucky one in our family i found out before its too late and feel privalaged that i can do something about it now there isnt many people who get the chance to know before its too late
none of my family had the choices that i have and i feel very lucky
yes there is a 50 % chance that your dad could be also the carrier of the faulty gene.Get yourself checked for the common faulty mutation.I think you need greater surveillance than the general population
good luck