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I suppose one of the positive things about barely sleeping for several weeks is that when you do finally manage to drop off for real, you sink into a 14 hour coma. At least I feel a little better? Annoyed that I have to go back on Monday to get done what I thought would happen yesterday, but it's far less upsetting today.
To explain why the brca testing in particular has me on edge, I should probably tell you what it is. BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are the genes thought to cause the familial/genetic form of breast and ovarian cancer. A positive result when screening for if these genes are broken ups your lifetime risk of these diseases to kind of astronomic levels. Whether or not they screen for it depends on how many of the risk factors associated you have, as the genetic version of these cancers is on the rare side. I have more than two family members who have had breast cancer. I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was triple negative. At the age of 36. That's like...more than half the list.
A positive result would have them yanking my ovaries (and possibly the entire works down there) faster than you could say 'got eggs?' as a prophylactic measure. It also has less than awesome implications regarding my prognosis on the breast cancer front.
Anyway, like I said, this gene expression is rare. Even for people who seem to have a lot of the risk factors it can come back negative. While it would not be surprising if I had it, it also wouldn't be surprising if I didn't. I was able to get away with not testing for it this long because I'd already chosen a prophylactic mastectomy for the non-cancer breast, and additional elective surgery wasn't going to be on the list while I was still in active treatment anyway. It is not a question I can avoid any longer, though. Nor are the decisions I'll have to make based on the results.
It is a tiny bit stressful, yes.
To explain why the brca testing in particular has me on edge, I should probably tell you what it is. BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are the genes thought to cause the familial/genetic form of breast and ovarian cancer. A positive result when screening for if these genes are broken ups your lifetime risk of these diseases to kind of astronomic levels. Whether or not they screen for it depends on how many of the risk factors associated you have, as the genetic version of these cancers is on the rare side. I have more than two family members who have had breast cancer. I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was triple negative. At the age of 36. That's like...more than half the list.
A positive result would have them yanking my ovaries (and possibly the entire works down there) faster than you could say 'got eggs?' as a prophylactic measure. It also has less than awesome implications regarding my prognosis on the breast cancer front.
Anyway, like I said, this gene expression is rare. Even for people who seem to have a lot of the risk factors it can come back negative. While it would not be surprising if I had it, it also wouldn't be surprising if I didn't. I was able to get away with not testing for it this long because I'd already chosen a prophylactic mastectomy for the non-cancer breast, and additional elective surgery wasn't going to be on the list while I was still in active treatment anyway. It is not a question I can avoid any longer, though. Nor are the decisions I'll have to make based on the results.
It is a tiny bit stressful, yes.
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P.S. Did your family members who had breast cancer test positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations?
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How are you doing? ILU. ::smooshes::
No one in my family has been tested yet. The history isn't strong enough on its own (several second degree relatives), so it was my situation that got the ball rolling in terms of doctors being all 'um, we need to test for this now'
If mine comes back positive there will be need to start testing all the women at least. I am most concerned for my sister, since I was diagnosed at 36 she will have to start high risk screening at 26. And if the BRCA is positive she's going to be facing the question of whether or not to have a prophylactic mastectomy and/or oopherectomy before she's even 30. It kills me.
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Everything went really well, and I'm doing fine. I just have to wait for lab results of the tissue that was removed, so, fingers crossed they find nothing of concern.
What a horrible situation. I can only imagine how much this must hurt you. I hope this doesn't come off as obnoxious or Pollyannaish, but I'm glad they have a test, so women who test positive have the option of taking control of their own health.
*more and more hugs*
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The major frustration with it is that the company who makes the test tried to patent the BRCA gene (yeah, I don't even know) and as a result are the only ones who currently offer it. And they charge a fucking FORTUNE.
Thankfully the Supreme Court's reaction to this was to go "LOL, whut?" so over the next few years it should become more accessible to more women as other companies get hold of the gene and develop their own tests. And maybe they can start more regular testing of women in general.
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It would be very nice if July could be the month where good test results was the norm. Got all my fingers and toes crossed for yours.
And seriously, fuck the patent stuff. It is ridiculous that they even tried, though at least now that it has been smacked down in court other companies might not be so eager to try. One can hope.