Have you been tested for the cancer gene?

[rocknrollgirl]

My test came back negative.

[GLC1968]

My mom is a BC survivor, my grandmother was not. I will not be tested. Knowing that I carry the gene would not change my plan of attack, so I see no point to doing the test.

My test came back negative.

Good to hear!

[OakLeaf]

Yay R&R!

[Crankin]

Good news, R and R.
I think I would have it, but not sure. While I'm in the "genetic" group for the BRCA 1, no one on either side of my family has had bc. In fact, no one has had cancer, unless you count my dad, who has been living with prostate cancer for 20 years or more. He was about to have surgery when my mom got sick (not cancer) and he canceled it. After she died, he got treated with hormone injections and he's been fine since.

[shootingstar]

Yay, R &R!

As for taking preventive health care steps: If there are unknown environmental pollution/factors that contribute to my health, that's something I couldn't have known/often beyond my personal power.

But at least, I would like to be at peace with myself, that I have done what I could personally do to help myself improve my own health.

If anyone should claim genetic testing for protstate cancer for guys, it's misleading/rip-off (for now): At this time, over 80% of all men will get prostate cancer. It's just that for some men, it grows real slow and they end up dying of other natural causes in old age before cancer gets them. this has been confirmed by 2 physicians for my father since he does have prostate cancer. (But no other medical problems at all @81 yrs...which makes it more surreal. )

This is what I do indicate to people in person if they feel like giving up/or what's the point of taking preventive health care steps since 'we will die anyway" syndrome: The more multiple medical problems a person has, as they age, the more difficult one's health care will become. And most likely, more suffering there will be/taking more multiple drugs for different medical conditions simultaenously.

[itself]

Rocknrollgirl, congrats! Go celebrate in some fashion!

My friend was told that she has an 85% chance of getting breast cancer. Having tested positive for BRCA1 and having a complete hysterectomy, I know she is not driven by fear, but by the mere fact that her sister already had cancer. She wants to get it done and over with.

As my job includes speaking to specialists, I spoke to a woman surgeon today. It is amazing that a woman can recover in just two weeks from the breast procedure. She said if your surgeon is not using the skin spearing method, walk away. This is standard. The breast expansion takes a while but one can work while it is being done.

I spoke to a nurse who said the insurance, believe it or not, are covering the entire procedure. In fact, she has a dear friend that had a unitlateral done, and the insurance company paid to equalize the other breast despite not cancer issues with it. It seems, for once, the medicine is finally taking care of woman, not just men and their prostates.

Millions of dollars are spent on trying to "cure" cancer. I honestly do not think they are trying to cure it. The pharmaceutical companies would lose far too much money if it were cured. Pathetic really.

Good health to you all...

[Owlie]

Yay, R&R!

I'm not sure they'll ever find a "cure for cancer." There are just too many different types and too many things that may or may not cause or contribute to the process that finding that magic bullet is practically impossible.

While this may be a bit away for me (I hope), I'm not sure I ever get tested for it. It's just one more thing to worry about, and from what I know about my family's medical history, I'm at greater risk for heart disease or stroke than cancer--things that are shown to be impacted by stress.

If, however, I were to get tested and it came back positive..I'm not sure what I'd do with the information. Extra vigilance, I guess.