Familial Cancer

I received a letter from Peter McCallum Cancer Centre.

My Breast Surgeon had put me forward for testing for the BRCA gene to see if somehow I may have inherited a mutation. If this was the case, then Jana would also be at risk of breast cancer in her future.

It turns out that I am a low risk, so this is just an unfortunate freak of nature. If you are high risk, they do the testing and counselling at no charge (I think), I can ask to still have the test done for about $3,000.

My oncology gyno suggested that there are so many new advancements in development for testing for breast cancer that she suggested that I hold off. By the time it will most matter for Jana, there should be a simple blood or saliva test for it. Wouldn't that be great and such an easier way to be tested.

However, so I possibly don't have the gene mutation, just dumb luck. But for my sister, my mother and my daughter - they now have a moderately high risk because of me....so they need to be tested regularly and for longer than the average Jane. It also mentions considering hormone receptor blocking medication for daughters, which sounds a bit drastic. So hopefully the simple testing comes into play in the next 5 or so years taking the worry away for Jana.

I'm still to consider the hysterectomy or ovary ectomy (forget the name of it)....but I've got to get through this surgery recovery first.