Thread: BRAC 1 and BRAC 2

Originally Posted by bellababe

I see that no one has posted a reply although there have been many that have read this post. I went today for the test it was just a blood draw. I will have the results in two weeks. Since I do think this is a valid topic here, I will just continue to post just to keep you up to date on it. LOL!! As I was driving home from the Dr's office I wondered if it was the right thing to do. Oh, well it's too late to second guess that, I will let you all know what happens.

I had breast cancer 1/1/05 and had a lumpectomy, my sister also had it at the same time and she passed within 10 months of her surgery. We both tested brac 2 pos .
my mother had ovarian cancer and she is still alive after 24 years and her sister had breast cancar at 40. I had all of my female organs removed and in dec had bilateral masectomy and I will finish my reconstruction sugery in march. My thought is it is better to know than to find out to late. As of to date my younger sister, two of my cousins [they both found out they had cancer and had bi lateral masectomys also] and my niece [daughter of my sister who died] have all come up brac 2 pos. Hope your test is neg . If you come up pos find a good doctor they'll give you the best advise.

Nancy
Did you have the surgery to remove your ovaries and breasts/ I just got my results back and they were positive. Now i need to go for genetic counseling my doctor said.

Please help

Pam

I am considering having this testing done. I'm sure I am probably younger than many of you but I have had a few members of my family die from breast cancer and a few other cancers.

My mother was a breast cancer survivor, but later died of something unrelated. My sister on the other hand was the most shocking to me, she was 37 and never missed her yearly mammograms which were always negative.. something though was different, she could feel there was something different, so she had an MRI. She had inflammatory breast cancer and by the time she caught it, it had already metastasised to her spine and brain. She died three months later. My other sister died from lung cancer that had spread to her brain and liver. My grandmother died from colon cancer. All of them except my mother died under the age of 50. I have one sister left that refuses to get checked, and her 20 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Needless to say she is also freaking out about it.

I know for sure the breast cancer my mother and sister had were two different kinds. Since there are so many different types of cancer in my family, I really want to get this test done to see what my chances are.. at least for these two types of cancer. I know, right now that they are high considering my family history but if I do have this testing done and it comes back positive I plan on going ahead and having a prophylactic mastectomy done but feel that I am still too young to have the oophorectomy done and would rather wait till I was premenopausal.

I am btw only 26. Sometimes I am told that I am rushing and should just continue with the self examinations and mammograms... that didn't help my sister and she did it religiously. I am willing to loose my breasts, even at 26 just to have a little peace of mind knowing that my chances at developing breast cancer have dropped significantly.

hello
I was tested Positive for the BRCA 2 gene. I have had genetic counseling already. My family history is quite bad. Mother, Grandmother and Aunt all died in their early 40's. My cousin had a double mastectomy in her 30's. I turned 47 yesterday and I have had about 5 biopsies (Needle and Benign, one breast surgery to remove 2 lumps, benign, and the docs are watching 2 lumps in my left breast)

I am going to have my ovaries removed on April 27, 2009. I have spoken with 4 doctors, my family and friends. Each and every person totally agrees with my decision. I am seeing a breast surgeon next week to talk about a Prophylactic double mastectomy. i definitely am doing this I was just wondering if anyone else had this procedure , what time of hospital stay, what length of recuperation. I spoke with one woman who had implants and said she felt fine in 5 days??? I can't imagine that. I mean I am having 2 breasts cut off and then having 2 new ones at the same time.. That seems like it will be alot of pain and time to get better. Anyone have an answer for me? Thanks a bunch.

Pam

Originally Posted by answin

I am considering having this testing done. I'm sure I am probably younger than many of you but I have had a few members of my family die from breast cancer and a few other cancers.

My mother was a breast cancer survivor, but later died of something unrelated. My sister on the other hand was the most shocking to me, she was 37 and never missed her yearly mammograms which were always negative.. something though was different, she could feel there was something different, so she had an MRI. She had inflammatory breast cancer and by the time she caught it, it had already metastasised to her spine and brain. She died three months later. My other sister died from lung cancer that had spread to her brain and liver. My grandmother died from colon cancer. All of them except my mother died under the age of 50. I have one sister left that refuses to get checked, and her 20 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Needless to say she is also freaking out about it.

I know for sure the breast cancer my mother and sister had were two different kinds. Since there are so many different types of cancer in my family, I really want to get this test done to see what my chances are.. at least for these two types of cancer. I know, right now that they are high considering my family history but if I do have this testing done and it comes back positive I plan on going ahead and having a prophylactic mastectomy done but feel that I am still too young to have the oophorectomy done and would rather wait till I was premenopausal.

I am btw only 26. Sometimes I am told that I am rushing and should just continue with the self examinations and mammograms... that didn't help my sister and she did it religiously. I am willing to loose my breasts, even at 26 just to have a little peace of mind knowing that my chances at developing breast cancer have dropped significantly.

My niece is 27 and her gyno told her to wait until she was 30 to do the test because she wants to have a family first. Since I am positive and our family history isn't the greatest she too will do the surgeries if she is positive. He told her she can do 6 month mammo/sonos to watch her and then make her decision. I think you should do the same thing honey. Good Luck to you.

Originally Posted by bellababe

I see that no one has posted a reply although there have been many that have read this post. I went today for the test it was just a blood draw. I will have the results in two weeks. Since I do think this is a valid topic here, I will just continue to post just to keep you up to date on it. LOL!! As I was driving home from the Dr's office I wondered if it was the right thing to do. Oh, well it's too late to second guess that, I will let you all know what happens.

Hi
I was wondering how your test came out and how you are doing?

Pam

I have tested positive for teh brac2 gene. I am concidering a double masectomy to bring down my chances. I am only 40 and kind of scared. My mother died 9 years ago at the age of 54. I was wondering if anyone else has had this procedure done? I ould love to talk to anyone who is going through this?

Hi everyone,

Well where do I begin. As you know I was tested and it was positive.
as of today Aug 4, 2009 the following things have occcured with me.

I have had my ovaries removed in April and all went well I am perfectly fine.

On June 8, 2009 I had a Double Prophylactic Mastectomy. I am doing well, I have had what is called my first fill.
The surgery was 6 1/2 hours and both breasts were removed, they then put what is called expanders in my chest wall. They will be filled with saline until I reach the desired breast size I want. I am going for a large B small C cup.

I had a little set back but nothing major, like I said I had my first fill of 60cc's so with what was put in me during surgery I now have 210 cc's in each breast. Still no form yet to the breasts.

I urge you to check out the following website it has been my saving grace and they will answer all of your questions.

F.O.R.C.E. .com it will explain everything.

I hope each and every one of you will do what is best for you. I feel great and can't wait til I have my new breasts.

Also, all of my tissue and ovary biopsies have been negative.

God Bless You

Pam