well today i find out that my older sister has lymphomia cancer and is on chemo i was adopted but luckily had met my extended family when i was 21.Today i find out that my eldest sister is on chemo one aunt has had breast canser and one has had cervical cancer so to say i am slighlty worried may well be an understatement but im having my rant on here and keeping strong on the outside, dose any one know if this makes a difference i know that the hosp needs to know etc but dont know wot else to think wether i should be freaking out or not help please thanks in advance for your comments big hugs to all louisa
Lou, first of all you need some hugs.
Secondly, from what I’ve heard there needs to be a lot more than one breast cancer, several at a young age, for them to think there’s a genetic link. I don’t believe cervical cancer is linked though ovarian may be, and I don’t believe lymphoma is linked either. Unfortunately cancer is a really common group of diseases so most families will have more than one case of cancer in its history.
But to get the reassurance that you need, ask your onc, surgeon or BCN and explain your fears.
hiya and also sorry to hear you are so worried. i am a bit different to you as i definately have the bad gene fault that causes cancer so i am trying to decide to have the op to remove the breasts and ovaries or just to go with the screening.
saying that, everyones worried about cancer even if they dont have the gene. but as the other poster said, its so common that everyone will have someone in the family with it. i’ve also been learning more about risks because of the councelling for our family history. you are only really at increased risk if there is a lot of what they call unusual cancer such as a cancer in a really young person thats not usual - like breast cancer in your 20s - whereas some cancers are common in young people, like bone cancer - so wouldnt be unusual - i hope this is making sense. other unusual things like a close relative with cancer in both breasts or breast and ovary cancer. my cousin had a ovary cyst but then when they took it out it had pre-cancerrous cells in it.
from what you have said it doesnt sound like you have a bigger risk - but maybe someone professional can give you advice.
all the best
J
thank you for your comments big hugs to you all im ok feeling strong at the min but who knows what tues will throw at me when i have my triple test any way here i am sending special positivie vibes and big hugs to you all thanks xxxxxx
hello again - what is that you are having done on tuesday? what type of test is this?
J
Lou having 2 sisters with breast cancer would put you at an increased risk if they were both diagnosed under age 60 and this would mean you and any other sisters and their daughters would be entitled to early screening in England this is usually annual mammogram between 40 and 50.
There is no documented link with cervical or lymphoma and breast cancer but it’s wise to inform your genetics department. If you have breast cancer too then it won’t really change your treatment but it may be worthwhile to discuss it with your breast surgeon and Onc when the time comes and get referral to genetics who will assess your history and may be able to offer gene testing to you depending on the age of onset of the cancers. 3 cancer in one family is considered moderate risk and not high risk usually, however if all 3 breast cancers occured when you and your sisters were in your 20s and 30s then you could be offered gene testing, but if the 3 of you are older they can offer to test you through the brca 3 research trial. If there is only 2 with breast cancer they would only test one of the affected sisters if they had bilateral cancer or were both in their 20s when diagnosed.
Try to find as much as you can like age at diagnosis and type of breast cancer etc and fingers crossed for good news on Tuesday.
Lulu xx
hi lulu its just all confusing isnt it i have a aunt who had breast cancer under 60 and one with cervical cancer under 60 my sister is 42 diagnosed lymphoma in ec last yr and is on chemo im having the triple test tues mammogram scan and biopsy needle thing so yes confused i am but im sure i will know more on tuesday although i will have a couple of weeks wait for biopsy eh but up ward and onward one step at a time iv signed up to do the 6 mile run un clumber although i may end up walking some of it lol but it will be fun an for a good cause big hugs to u all love louisa xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Lou
there is no known link with breast and cervical cancer so with your family history you are atually low risk (that is the same as the general population) of developing BC… hope that helps reassure you a bit and i have my fingers well and truly crossed but the forum will be down for 3 days so wont know how you got on till later in the week but ill be thinking of you xxx