Should I be tested or not?

Please can someone give me advice. i think I am being a hyperchondriac.. I am considering going for cancering screening.. They test for the breast cancer gene and ovarian. The only two family members that have had this cancer are my maternal grandma (ovarian) and my aunt (breast), although we think that was lifestyle becuase she didnt take care of herself adn drank and did drugs.. Anyway.. I do have male cancers as well. Prostate, liver, in my family.. I am 36 years old and am afraid that I mgiht not really want to know. Mind you, this is all my concern, not my drs. My drs basically "laugh" at me for worrying but tell me if it will make me feel better, go. I am just afraid and wonder if I should even be thinking or worrying about this stuff. I mean obviously we should all be concerned, btu are we all going out to get tested! Any advice. I made an ap't and canceled becuase i freaked out that i am being ridiculous. TIA, Denise

Re: Should I be tested or not?

Well its a toss up. If you find out, what are you really going to do about it? Have your breasts and ovaries removed? I am being sincere, not joking. If you test +, is there anything that you can other than removal to prevent future disease?

If there is nothing to do but remove and extra monitoring, at your age I would not imagine you would do so, then what? Will you spend your days and nights knowing you have a gene that MAY cause cancers down the line? Or will it actually soothe you knowing you have to watch and be extra cautious re these topics? Only you can answer that but if removal is the only option,I personally would not bother being tested and I would roll the dice,kwim?

I understand completely your line of thinking btw.

Re: Should I be tested or not?

my aunt had breast cancer and thh dr told me the following:

"we would not remove anything, breast, etc if we knew you have the gene, we would just watch you more carefully, see you more after, do pelvic scans more ofter, etc, which is the same thing we are going to do since we know that you have a family history"

so honestly, it really would not change much knowing unless you want to remove a breat or organ to protect yourself, which i now i would not consider until I have children unless i had too.

there are also other cancer cases in my family.

HTH!

Re: Should I be tested or not?

Thanks, Ladies. Yes, it does help very much. I am very sorry about your Aunt.. Cancer is horrible. I lost my Dad 4 years ago from Esophageal and that is why I think I am so scared and paranoid. I realize cancer does not discriminate, it can happen to any of us. Thank you for understanding.. I agree with you both and that was why I cancelled my appointment. My Dr. knows my family history and I will just continue to be very vigilant in my exams and tests I need to have done. THanks so much. Denise

Re: Should I be tested or not?

If you are really concerned go speak with a genetic counselor who can assess your risk and make a recommendation.

Re: Should I be tested or not?

I am just curious if anyone done this? I have been freaking out for a while now. My mom had breast cancer and is a survior but I lost my little sister 4 years ago to melanoma and I am petrafied. I have 3 little babies that I never want to say goodbye to especially if it was something I could prevent...

Re: Should I be tested or not?

I was 37 when I had my first mammo. They found an abnormality. I had it removed and it was benign.

My gyn took a complete history. There is no genetic predisposition but I got counseled by an Oncologist. They wanted to put me on tamoxifen. I declined.

Ovarian and breast cancer are no joke. If you have a family history you can be proactive about your screening.

I would go get tested if you think it would put your mind at ease.

Take one step at a time. You don't have to make any decisions if you find out something is up.

Good luck.

Re: Should I be tested or not?

I think you need to know what you will do if you find out that you are BRCA positive. That is the gene in that people have with breast/ovarian cancer.
Skin cancer is not related to breast cancer. I have skin cancer in my family so I go for regular check ups with the dermatologist.

ETA: You can get breast cancer without having the BRCA gene. I have no family history and I am BRCA negative but I have breast cancer.

Message edited 8/11/2011 3:04:09 PM.