BCRA Sreening ...advice please

[AandAmom]

My sister and cousin both died of breast cancer in their forties over ten years ago. Myself and the sister of my cousin who died are now in our forties and my cousin has now got breast cancer. She has been tested for the BCRA Gene and has discovered that yes she has it, she is planning on double mastectomy and hysterectomy next year. Because of this family history I have been offered the test. My cousin is very supportive but wants me to have the test but my mother who has also been offered it is refusing and doesn't want me to have it. My partner is also dead against it. I am torn I have a mammogram ever year and this has always been fine but I have kids who I want to see married and settled, I know cancer treatments and mortality rates are much better than when I lost my DS and DC ten years ago but I am better to have the test and decide then what to do with my body rather than waiting until cancer gives me limited choices. Has anyone else had a similar experience ? Thanks

I can't believe family members are putting emotional pressure on you regarding this. Wow. Seriously, just wow.

The decision can only be yours alone. My friend was in your position. She was tested, found positive and had preventative treatment. Another family member refused to be tested (although she did many years later, was also found positive and had treatment). The famiy respected their different wishes at the time.

I'm sorry you are in this position, I'm sure it's tough enough without relatives sticking their noses in, however well-intentioned.

Ood luck, whatever you decide xx

This has to be your decision, and only yours. I have just had a risk reducing mastectomy and an lucky that no one has tried to influence my decision at all.

The worry has been lifted for me already as, even though I was being screened, I felt at though I was just waiting for them to find it.

If you can, try and block out their opinions and do what you want. Is there a genetic counselling service offered? I found it really useful to discuss my risk with someone who knew what they were talking about.

If it is of any help to you, genetic testing wasn't possible for me but I have a very similar family history to you and was offered the surgery based on that alone.

I agree with the above but just to add, if you get the test and is positive you don't actually have to have a mastectomy.
My cousin has known since she was 20 she had the gene, but just had more regular mammograms. Of course the possibility is there but the hope is it would be caught much earlier.

If it was me I would do it but probably wouldn't have preventative surgery.

Thank you for the replies, have met up with my cousin today and we are going to visit a gene counsellor together December 18th . Won't mention it to my mom or partner again until I make my decision based on professional counselling/advice.

I've just had a risk reducing double mastectomy with reconstruction and have no regrets. Even if you don't want surgery there are many other things that can be done to reduce the risk of BC if you do have BRCA1 or 2. Also they are studying other genes that lead to breast cancer as well as the 2 well known ones.

I too feel like a weight has been lifted!