Every woman in my family has had breast cancer:(

[LefthandRight]

Gran died of it as did great aunts. My aunt has it and is undergoing treatment. Now I have found out my mum has it :(

Am I fated to have this?

Im 35. Can I ask my doctor to test me for the gene? But even if I discover that, what can be done? It seems like even a healthy lifestyle doesn't protect you?

If you have the gene you will receive counselling to help you decide what you want to do - enhanced monitoring, preemptive surgery etc. you need help to decide though

Yes, I'm pretty sure your GP would refer you for predictive genetic testing. When you have the results of that, you will have some options, as @anothernamechangeagainsndagain . If you have the genetic markers, you can join the high risk screening programme or you may be offered surgery (like Angelina Jolie has had) to remove your breast tissue.

Hope your mum and aunt get a good outcome from treatment.

Thank you both for replying. I will go and speak to my GP. :-/
If you opt for a pre-emptive mastectomy do they recreate breasts for you or is that something you have to finance yourself?

You get reconstructive surgery too.

First thing the genetic service told me was to go away and sort out my life insurance as they can't currently asking about and genetic testing you've had done.

Have you completed your family?

That makes choices easier such as ovary removal.

Most genetics services will also accept self-referrals, OP. What part of the country are you in?

I don't have any life insurance, and I don't have any children, I'm in Sussex!

Ovary removal? Is that linked to breast cancer? I had no idea. Guess I need to do some reading.

If you are healthy life insurance is cheap. Depending on where you work you may have some death in service benefit - that's all I have tbh.

There are monitoring options for breast cancer or preventative surgery however there aren't currently reliable monitoring for ovarian cancer unfortunately.

If you have the gene issue it increases your chance of other cancers.

I'm waiting for my results. They take a long time. I was told 8 weeks.

Sorry you find yourself in this situation.
a friend was in similar, got genetic testing, has the gene and was offered extra monitoring- I think a mammogram every year or so.

anyway something small was found a few years later at the very early stages. She had a double mastectomy (and reconstruction- both via nhs as far as I am aware) - no other treatment needed and she’s been fine since.

If your Mum has the gene it's 50:50 if you or any siblings have inherited it. Your referral falls under NICE guidelines so it doesn't matter whether your family has had the genetic testing.

@tothelefttotheleft I hope your test is negative, it's a very stressful wait

Yes fingers crossed for you x

Getting genetic testing on the NHS is quite a lottery unfortunately, despite what national guidelines might say.

If every female in your family has had breast cancer, I'm surprised genetic testing hasn't been mentioned to one of them.

It's definitely worth speaking to your GP. I found going private wasn't particularly expensive.

The biggest risk factors for breast cancer are sex, and age and genes. Lifestyle factors are miniscule in comparison.
There are many different kinds of breast cancer but oestrogen positive bc increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
People who have mastectomy are able to have cosmetic reconstruction on the NHS though not everyone does (I didn't).

I think they're referring to risks of ovarian cancer. Not wanting to cause any additional stress, although some of the same genes (loss-of-function mutations in BRCA1/2) are associated with an increased risk of ovarian and other cancers, and not just breast cancer.

Tell your gp straight away as you should be being screened irrespective of whether you have a recognised genetic predisposition. I know of families with similar history but no know reason. I suspect in 10 years time we will have better understanding in this area.

A friend of mine has had enhanced screening since age 40 because of close family history. Like a pp, breast cancer was recently picked up with a mammogram: she has had surgery and reconstruction. She has said that she couldn’t feel her lump so she credits the extra screening with saving her life.

I found out that I had the BRCA2 gene after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
My dad and my sister also had the gene.
I needed a double mastectomy anyway, but also had my ovaries removed as a preventative measure as that gene also increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
I know someone who had the preventative mastectomy and she was able to have immediate reconstruction.
Please read up on the genes and speak to your GP about a referral to genetics.

Im in a similar position OP but fortunately no-one has died of it directly yet and it has been caught early (we live near an exceptional hospital). My mum was tested when she got it and despite the clear pattern (every women for 3 generations) she doesn't carry either of the two well known genes so we have that at least. Everyone so far has been in their 50s or over so i'm hoping it will be the same for me and my sister/cousins.

First step is to ask your gp to refer you to your local breast family history clinic. They can sort early breast screening.

As a well person, genetic testing is only usually available on the nhs if a disease causing gene change has been found in a family member. Ask your relatives who have had cancer, if they have had genetic testing? If they haven't they should speak to their doctor

As others have said, it sounds like you would be an obvious candidate for genetic testing and genetic counselling. I know someone with similar family history who chose to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction. It was all on the NHS. You may also have increased risk for other gynae things too. I know it feels scary, but you are in a position of having knowledge that you can use to benefit your health and that of future family members. Make the appointment and best wishes to you.

Your family don't have to had genetic testing anymore, that family history qualifies you under the NICE guidelines to be referred to specialist clinic.

My mum, gran and aunt (mum's sister) have all had breast cancer but I was told due to the types they had it's not genetic. So I guess it's just bad luck? Could the same be the case for you and your family?