As many of you know my mom has been fighting breast cancer since January of this year. Three weeks ago, while she was having her second breast removed, her doctor asked me to have a genetic test done called "swish and spit". This is a new test were you swish mouth wash around in your mouth for 30 seconds spit into a tube and repeat once more. It screens those who are at high risk for cancer and since my mother took the same test and found she was a carrier, I was asked to do the same. The test looks for changes, or mutations, in two genes that are related to breast and ovarian cancer. The two genes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Changes in these BRCA genes are rare, but having one increases your chances of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
Today I got a call from her doctor with the results and results came out positive. This means that I am at a very high risk for cancer and about to go through a series of tests to make sure that I am okay for now. I have to have tons of blood work, have mammograms, MRI's, etc. Aside from myself I was more worried about my daughter, but he said she was fine for now and wouldn't need to do the test herself until she was 25.
During our conversation about my results he asked me if I were through having children. This question came as a shock to me because I didn't expect to be asked that. I told him about losing Laken last year and that my husband and I had thought about maybe having one more in the near future when things settled down around us. He said when I thought that I was finished having children that I needed to think about having my ovaries removed which would end my child bearing days. He went on to say that I should consider removing the tissue from my breast to protect myself and me being so young that I could have reconstructive surgery. I understand his concern and wanting to sheild me for the future, but these are big choices to make. I'm not broken right now so why try and fix me? For a woman these are hard decisions to make. Opinions please?
I am so sorry to hear this. Those are very big decision. What is the percentage rate that you will get cancer?
ReplyDeleteDoes everyone who test positive eventually get cancer. You know you can live a full live without those parts but you you definitely have to make decisions on having more children. Does insurance cover all of this? These are hard questions and I will pray that God gives you the answers you need. ((HUGS))
Debby, I'm still unsure about a lot of things. He was giving me my results over the phone and going through possible options for me. With my own first appointment with him, I'm going to have a lot of questions. Of course I'm going to do the normal tests to check everything out, but to go ahead and make the decision to remove things now? I may go with a possible second opinion.
ReplyDeleteOh Melissa I'm so sorry to hear what you are dealing with. I don't have any experience with this but please know I'm praying for you and your family. I think a second opinion is always a good idea with something of this nature.
ReplyDelete(((hugs)))
Natasha, I agree. I'm learning a lot about BRCA mutation. It's suppose to be very rare. Thank you for the prayers, they're needed! I will keep everybody updated as I go along.
ReplyDeleteA lot of tough decisions to make. Both me and my best best friend along with a lot of breast cancer patients in our jobs. We have both talked about what would we do if we develop breast cancer. We both agreed that we would get a mastectomy. If I knew I had the genes that increases the risk of breast cancer dramatically I think I would get it done. I see the patients going through chemo and radiation and all the tests they have to go through. I wouldn't want to put my family through that or go through it myself. I'm not sure though if I would have them remove my ovaries I would look more into that first.
ReplyDelete*my off and I work w/ bc pts...sorry...autocorrect!
ReplyDelete*bah! bff not off
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm set to have some tests Monday, but won't know the results right away. I still have a lot of questions for the doctor. With him wanting to remove everything no matter the outcome of the tests, I'm not sure what I will do. It's scary to think of something being so final as having your ovaries removed and having no more children in the future, but the two babies that I have here on earth with me now are my main concern. I have to make sure I do what it takes to be here as long as possible with them. If he thinks that I should definitely remove the ovaries and breast it's a good possibility that I may. My plan is to talk to him about maybe having 2 mammograms a year along with having regular pelvic ultrasounds and check ups to keep from doing surgeries.
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