Hereditary Breast Cancer

[jacobintl]

Now Breast cancer has become a common disease. Each year, approximately 150,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer, and one in nine American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

But hereditary breast cancer is mainly caused by a mutant gene passed from parents to their children. It is quite rare. Estimates of the incidence of hereditary breast cancer range from between 5 to 10 percent to as many as 27 percent of all breast cancers.

When individuals carry a mutated form of either BRCA1 or BRCA2, they have an increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer at some point in their lives. Children of parents with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene mutation.

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[Vee Smith]

Thank you - this is well-recognised and much discussed.

Do you have personal experience of the situation?

[jacobintl]

No sorry
I don't have personal experience of the situation.

Thanks

[rddykie181146]

I have been investigated for Hereditary Breast Cancer following the death of our mother and the diagnosis of my sister some 25 and 17 years ago respectively.

I have been having Mammograms for in excess of 14 years and decided 3 years ago that I wanted to be tested for the genetic connections with this disease. However, I was advised that my mothers cancer was 'age' related and my sister's was a common form of cancer and that it was unlikely that I would be a carrier. Since I provided 'other' family members information and there cancer's, albeit, they were men, they did try to obtain samples of their cancer's, but to no avail. They will offer Bowel screening later this year.

As I am 50 later this year, I was not selected for my usual annual mammogram and I queried this with the hospital, only to be told that I would now be joining the 3 yearly breast screening clinic and wouldn't be called until 2012. I insisted that this was not acceptable because I would be prepared to have a double mastectomy if necessary because the fear of getting Breast Cancer was damaging me psycologically and I am not coping with this hanging over me. They refused on the grounds that the BRCA1 test is too expensive, based on the family history available.

However, following my recent meeting with the consultant, Bazaarly, she has referred me to a plastic surgeon with a view to having a 'selective breast tissue removal operation' costing possibly 10-20 times more money, putting me through invasive surgery and quite possibly for nothing.

Whilst all this has been going on, my sister has since found out that she has 'Secondary Breast Cancer' in the Clavical Lymph Gland and we are awaiting what they propose to offer in the way of treatment.

Surely prevention is better than cure. They must have spent more money on the counselling sessions that I have required, which could have been spent of the blood test 10 years ago and all this could have been behind me? This is the UK NHS system affter all!!!

Typically English!

[jeniffer1]

Hi, I am 27 year old and I got married last year. None of my family member ever had Breast cancer problem. So, is there any chance that I may face these serious disease in the future. I am really worried about it. Please help!!!

[rddykie181146]

Hi Jeniffer1,

Hereditary Breast cancer means just that! If your Parents or siblings haven't had it then it's unlikely that you will. Firstly, stop worrying. Nothing constructive came out of worrying. You can be proactive by carrying out the usual self examinations to get to know your body and see your GP if you are concerned about anything unusual.

I come from a family with a wide variety of cancer's from both the male and female species. I keep my thoughts in proportion and carry out the self checks for peace of mind each month and have had regular mammograms because of both my mother and sister having had Breast cancer. Unfortunately, my sister's Breast cancer has returned and further investigations are being carried out.

Hope this alleviates any concerns you may have.

[Vee Smith]

Hi, I am 27 year old and I got married last year. None of my family member ever had Breast cancer problem. So, is there any chance that I may face these serious disease in the future. I am really worried about it. Please help!!!

Who can say. Cancer can strike anyone at any time. If none of your immediate blood relatives [mother, grandmothers, sisters, aunts] have developed breast cancer, then the chances are low. Your husband's relatives do not enter any equation. What has started you worrying?

You can ask to be tested for the BRCA1//BRCA2 genes, but why look for trouble? Much more important is to stop worrying and get on with your life.

[Cindy]

My daughter was diagnosed, two years ago. She also had triple negative receptors, like me. Being that I had also had breast cancer, they tested her to see if it was hereditary...and it wasn't. How odd is it that two women in the same family have breast cancer and it isn't even hereditary? Goes to show us how much of an epidemic it is.