Would you have your breasts or ovaries removed? I read a blog about someone who had A mastectomy and it's incredible reading her experience....
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Maybe if I tested positive for BRCA1 and 2 I might do something preemptively. I'm assuming she did.
I don't have the mutation so my boobies are staying.
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@mrsjazz: I believe so, her mom passed away very young from it. It's incredible the preventive care we can receive nowadays.
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@BandDmommy: In my family...each woman has had pre-cancer cells (to different degrees) on our cervix. I am the youngest and I was the first to have mine identified. My sister and I have since had the same surgery...my oldest sister was not as advanced. My mom was very proactive when it was all going on.
All that said - if I was determined to be pre-disposed to it through testing I would 100% be pre-emptive. I'd love having nice fake boobies.
Also - If I ever go through a point where I have a scare and have surgery I am very much of the "take it all - get rid of it" mind set. A friend of mine recently had ovarian cancer detected...she opted to have her whole uterus, both ovaries and appendix all removed "just to be safe" - I think I'd do the same. FWIW - she is finished having children...so it was an easier decision than for some...
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@Mrs D: I would be too!
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My mom had breast cancer but tested negative for the gene. I'm not sure if I'd have them pre-emptively removed, but I know it is becoming a lot more commonplace. It seems like a really tough decision regardless.
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If I tested positive for the gene and I was sure I was done having children, I would very strongly consider it. But I don't actually know how I'd feel in that situation.
My aunt had breast cancer a few years back (and is doing just fine now, thankfully!). She doesn't have children but was tested for the gene so she could tell my sisters and me if she had it- but she tested negative.
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My mom died of ovarian cancer so I had the BRCA testing done. I'm negative, but I still have a higher overall risk. I am really hoping that by the time I'm certainly done having kids, there will be better screening and treatment options available.
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I am really not sure what I would do. The unfortunate situation is that I would likely have to see what my insurance covered and then make a decision based on finances, which absolutely horrifies me.
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@BandDmommy: I would. I read North Carolina Charm's blog posts about her experience. A couple of years ago, I had two friends with cancer. One passed away (not breast cancer) while the one with breast cancer went through a similar surgery as NCC. The fluid bags seemed familiar to me. My friend has been enjoying life happily for a few years and only recently needed a revision surgery relating to her mastectomy.
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Not breast cancer and not my family, but my childhood best friend's dad died of stomach cancer. She was tested and had the gene, while her brother didn't. She chose to have most of her stomach removed. She's adjusted, although has a lot of restrictions. She says she never regrets it.
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Yes, it's something I've told my DH I want to look into after we are done having children. My grandma had breast cancer 2x and eventually a double mastectomy.
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Someone I used to be very close to tested positive for the gene (her mom had breast cancer twice before 40 and ended up with a double mastectomy). After much research, she decided to have a preventative double mastectomy, similar to what Angelina Jolie did, and my friend did this a few years prior to Jolie's procedure when she was in her late 20s. She said the burden of knowing she was at 80% risk was unbearable and she wanted to do what she could to prevent.
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As long as I was done having children I would consider it. There is not a history of either cancer in my family, but it's something I have thought about.
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Even though my mom had breast cancer (no BRCA mutation) and my MIL has terminal metastatic breast cancer, I don't think I would do it. My father died of oral cancer, one grandfather died of stomach cancer, another from bone cancer, my aunt had lymphoma - in order to protect myself from all the potential cancers that I might be predisposed to I'd have cut out nearly every part of my body.
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A friend of mine tested positive for the BRCA gene and is having her double mastectomy in a few weeks. She's 30 and has two young daughters.
I would do the same.
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If I had the gene I would after I was done having kids.
My kids need me more then I need my boobs.
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