Brac1 and Brac2 Gene Testing??
Hiya,
Im looking for help in getting more information or where to go to get tested for the Brac1 and Brac2 gene?
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 49 and passed away when she was 52...it had spread to the bone which she lived a fairly relative good quality of life until the last month or so when we found out it had gone to her liver and unfortunately nothing more could be done.
She spent the 3 years going through Chemotherapy in various forms and thank god for her with little side effect apart from losing her hair and a little sickness. She was such an inspiration and showed so much courage throughout.
Im 25 and Im really conscious on early detection and definitely a lot more aware of how important it is to get early detection. unfortunately my mother disclosed to us after getting diagnosed that she had noticed a lump nearly a year before getting it seen to...maybe the outcome would still have been the same but the question is always there what if??
I just want to inform myself more of getting tested..im aware that the chance woulkd still be there even if I tested negative but its something I want to look into and I cant seem to find out where I would get tested etc and does it make a difference that my mother has passed can I still get tested??
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Comments
Hi Triona
Sorry to hear about your mum. It prob best to speak to your GP. Maybe they could refer you to the breast clinic for further advice. As lindylu mentioned if it's only one relative they may not refer you publicly. They may also look at her age and type of tumour too. But going private would open up more doors.i was refered because my mum had ovarian and I was 29 years old when diagnosed. Also my tumor was triple negative not sensitive to hormones and these are more common in genetic cancers. My test not surprising was positive which now leaves me with many decisions to make or not make.
However knowledge is power and the majority of cancers are not genetic.
I do hope your GP can help.
Regards
Ann
Morning Triona
I'm sorry to hear about your mother.. she was so young.. For what its worth I agree with Lindylu & Anncorr1981.. You should go and visit your GP and ask their opinion. I was referred for screening by my oncologist (disgnosed with breast cancer in April) and received a letter and cancer family tree chart which I had to fill and return.. I then received a letter from them a couple of weeks later to say that I had now been placed on the waiting list at the Genetics Clinic (waiting list approx 10 months 
)
While I haven't lost any immediate family members to cancer I have lost a lot of blood relatives (aunts and cousins) to breast cancer.
Keep in touch and let us know how you go
Resolute x
Hi Triona,
Sorry to hear about your mum.
Have you talked to your GP about your family history of breast cancer? I know of cases where a mum has been diagnosed the daughters are screened from a certain age, as I understand it it is 10 years before the age your mum was diagnosed so for you this would be 39. That seems like way way way too long away given your current age.
In under 40's a mammograms are difficult to read due to the density of breast tissue. Some places do ultrasound and/or MRI.
Re genetic testing. If in your extended family it was only your mum diagnosed then you are unlikely to be referred for genetic testing (in the public system that is). There are private institutions that do it but I don't know much about them since I had it done in crumlin (kiddie hospital) in their genetics Dept. Only about 5% of breast cancers are genetic. I tested negative btw.
Suggest you talk to your GP and see where that takes you.
Good luck.