The average woman in the United States has about a 1 in 8, or a 12-13%, risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Women who have an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (or both) can have up to an 80% risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes. Breast cancers associated with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene tend to develop in younger women and occur more often in both breasts than cancers in women without these abnormal genes.
Because I have no family history and I'm only 31, I had this genetic test done a couple weeks ago to see if I had a BRCA gene mutation. If I did, I would have a 50% chance of passing the mutated gene onto my children.
Results are in....NO MUTATIONS! :)
This doesn't change my cancer or prognosis, but it does mean that my kids are at no greater risk for breast cancer than the general population.
Yay!
What GREAT news!
ReplyDeleteI bet that is a load off!!!
ReplyDeleteJust saw your story on the Pink Together group on facebook... I was 31 and pregnant with our 3rd child when I was diagnosed a little over 5 years ago...your blog brings back so many memories...your children are so blessed to have such a courageous mom(not that we don't all have our moments)... my blog is at www.somewherebeyondthec.blogspot.com
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