Braca 1 & 2 genetic marker test for breast cancer - Cancer: Breast Message Board

floridalady · 10-23-2003, 09:40 AM

Good Morning,

My mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago.She said she had the mastectomy and lymph nodes removed 3 days after diagnosis. She has the strongest most invasive of breast cancer that is very aggressive. With that info, I have scheduled an appt with our local cancer center to have the Braca 1 & 2 done. It is a 3 step procedure. The first visit, October 30th, is a 2 hour consult which I am thinking t is a psych type of checkup. Then the blood test and then the results. I have Myasthenia Gravis and have fought hard with this disease. almost died 5 times and always come back and get remission. I am not about ready to lose my life to breast cancer. Plus I am trying to avoid the actual cancer popping up on me and causing my disease to really flare. Mom is having chemo now and doing well.

Any of you get dx via the Braca 1 & 2?

Kalie · 10-24-2003, 12:09 PM

Hi there!

I'm sorry to hear about your mom -- I hope she is doing well after her surgery. Life gets much easier once the Drs remove the drains.

I'm a 26yo breast cancer survivor (stage II, e/p horomone receptor positive, aggressive). I was tested for both BRCA1 and 2, and my results were inconclusive. Researchers know that mutations in these genes may lead to breast cancer, but not all the mutations are mapped. Some mutations are deleterious (meaning they may lead to breast cancer), other mutations are not deleterious (meaning no potential problems), and some (lucky me), well they're just not sure what these mutations mean.

Testing positive for mutations in BRCA1 or 2 does NOT mean you will develop breast cancer! What it does mean, (to me anyway) is that you have an opportunity to monitor yourself more closely and adjust your lifestyle to help prevent breast cancer (maintain a healthy weight, only drink 1 alchohol drink per day, exercise regularly, possibly take a drug like Tamoxifen to prevent the breast cancer from ever developing.

Besides, only 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. My family has no cancer history at all, and I lost a breast to cancer at 26.

I know how you feel right now, it's really nervwracking. The important thing to remember is that no matter how the results turn out, women today have a fabulous chance of beating cancer and preventing recurrences. There isn't a day that goes by that the thought of a recurrence doesn't cross my mind, but if I let myself obsess over it, I'll gain nothing, and lose the great days that I have.

Good luck! I hope you test negative!

Hang in there,
Kalie

(hug)

[This message has been edited by Kalie (edited 10-24-2003).]

KimRick · 10-24-2003, 02:53 PM

I just read an article this morning, on cbsnews.com/health, stating that Jewish women usually test positve for those 2 specific gene mutation and because of that, they are 85% more likely to develop breast cancer later in life.

floridalady · 10-26-2003, 12:13 PM

Thank you Kim and Kalie. I am already conditioned to news not being well for I also have Myasthenia Gravis. That doesn't mean I am expecting bad news, I just know that I can handle whatever comes to me.

She mentioned something about estrogen breast cancer for she was on HRT. Now I haven't been on HRT since my 40's which was 10 years ago.

Mom and I don't have a good relationship at all. When my Dad was dying from colon cancer, she got mad at him and told him that she was going out and not coming back. She told him once that she was going to put him in a home and see how he liked living on what litte he gets. She is cruel but comes across as a real sweet person. LOL She says alot of things in emotion and she does no wrong. She has talked to each kid about the other and now they have all turned on me. It is the type of thing, you know too much, so let's get rid of you. I have tried calling her recently and my ex CIA brother called me and threatened me. So...I am doing this for myself and no other reason. The other is very sad, but the more I try to hande it, the worse it gets.

Thank you all very much.
Loretta

HappySenior · 10-26-2003, 01:13 PM

I am not selling anything for anyone...this is what I did to get well..... Dr.Lorraine Day, you can enter her name into google and learn a lot.
I had breast cancer and had the lump removed and they didnt get all the margin.
They wanted to remove both breasts and give me chemo and radiation.
I refused and decided to rebuild my immune system, detoxing and then all raw foods and fruits and veg.s and trust in God. I also take a lot of supplements.
Well, first cancer margin line was 52 then 46 and now it is 34 and that is in a normal range!!!!