Breast cancer family history question?

Question

My grandma died about 14 years ago from breast cancer, she was about 65, my mom died last summer at the age of 52 after having breast cancer for nine years. I had my first mammogram last year at the age of 34 and was sent in for another one, they said that I had dense breast tissue. I was wondering is there a percentage that I may or may not develop breast cancer. Oh, I forgot to add that my mom and my grandma's cancer was estrogen based. Should I get the genetic test? What are your opinions on this? Thank you

If it skips a generation, that still wouldn't be any better I have two daughters and a niece.

What role does the estrogen based cancer play? Would I have had to have taken estrogen?

Answer 1

OK, someone told you to have 3 glasses of red wine weekly. DO NOT DO THAT. Recent studies have shown that all types of alcohol boost your risk of breast cancer.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep27/0,4670,AlcoholCancer,00.html

Go to your GYN, they may refer you to an oncologist. Have your Oncotype testing done (BRCA-1 and BRCA-2). This will also tell you if you are at risk for developing ovarian cancer.

If these are positive, your doctor will probably suggest that you have a prophylactic double mastectomy and salping-oophorectomy. That means they will remove your ovaries and breasts before you get cancer, so you can never develop it.

It sounds like a very scary thing, but you are lucky to be genetically dispositioned to breast cancer, because YOU can do something to prevent it. Thousands of women aren't granted that luxury.


Best of luck.

Answer 2

My mother developed an inverted nipple but would never get it checked. That can be a sign of breast cancer. She died at age 65 of COPD. My younger sister has been through two bouts of breast cancer. I am in my second bout of breast cancer, state 4. It is estrogen based. If there is a genetic test, go for it. What ever you can do to protect yourself I would do it. Estrogen based cancer has more options in treatment now, so that is a plus for you.

Answer 3

In younger women under 40 the breasts tend to be a lot denser which is why sometimes mammograms can be harder to pick up on any problems. I would recommend talking to your doctor about getting the genetic testing because of your family history. I'm considering doing the same because my mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm 35 and I already had my first mammogram as far as now based on the issue of family history.

I'm sorry about the loss of both your mom and grandma to breast cancer.

Answer 4

I have pretty much the same history as you do. When you are in your 30's unless you are very obese, you will have dense breast tissue. You are in a high risk group. I'm still not sure about getting the genentic test, as it is very expensive, and who knows the repercussions with the Insurance Co. it may cause in the future.

Just make sure you do your monthly checks, get a yearly mammogram, and possibly ultrasound. They also now have MRI mammography, which is much more accurate. If you fit in to a high risk category, Insurance may cover it. And always get a second opinion, if there are any suspicious findings.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

Given your family history, there is a strong possibility that you carry the gene that predisposes you to have breast cancer.

Should you get genetically tested? It depends on what our reaction would be to a positive test result.

A) have a radical double mastectomy as a precautionary measure? If this would be your reaction, them maybe you should get councelling and have the test done.

B) do regular self examinations and get checked regularly by your Dr? As less than 5% of breast cancers are genetically linked, you should do this IRRESPECTIVE of testing, so why bother?

C) assume you will die young and so waste your life is dissipation? A positive result only means you have an increased risk, not that you will get cancer.

I come from a family with a strong genetic link (maternal grandfather, mother, sister) and we have mostly been tested as our large family was used in a research project. Many of us have chosen not to know the results but assume we are positive (as all of us who know the results are!).

As a result we are all scrupulous about getting regular checks etc. So far, 1 sister has been treated for genetically linked breast cancer, ! sister was treated for non-genetic cancer, 1 brother was treated for non-genetic cancer and I have been treated for non-genetic breast cancer.

The genetic link did not influence the risks for 3 of us, but it did increase our awareness so all our cancers were found early and we have all been given excellent survival prospects.

Consider your options, and determine what you would do with the knowledge before you bother with genetic testing.

Answer 6

the Fact is You have a relatively HIGH risk to develope breast cancer but it is safe to say that you may still not get it till the day you DIE. there are so called Breast Cancer gene that runs in the family that will tell you that you will develope breast cancer in the future but its still not 100%.

Heres a cure, if your really scared of dying from these desease. have a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy then opt for an immediate breast reconstruction with autologous tissue or an implant. No Breast= NO breast cancer.

too radical? maybe for some but not for all

Answer 7

In cancer Hereditary plays important role. If your grand mother and mother had breast cancer you may also have. The possibilities are bright. Hence you should take regular mammograms every year and your age is just and you can get the disease. So please repeat the mammogram every year and also tell you Oncologist about the history of your mom and grandmother and have the genetic test also. Please do not neglect and have them done immediately as CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA.

For your information I give below the causes for getting Breast cancer which will be helpful to know more -

In breast cancer, some of the cells in your breast begin growing abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and may spread (metastasize) through your breast, to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body. The most common type of breast cancer begins in the milk-producing ducts, but cancer may also begin in the globules or in other breast tissue.

In most cases, it isn't clear what causes normal breast cells to become cancerous. Doctors do know that only 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers are inherited. Families that do have genetic defects in one of two genes, breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), have a much greater risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. Other inherited mutations — including the ataxia-telangiectasia mutation gene, the cell-cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK-2) gene and the p53 tumor suppressor gene — also make it more likely that you'll develop breast cancer. If one of these genes is present in your family, you have a 50 percent chance of having the gene.

Yet most genetic mutations related to breast cancer aren't inherited. These acquired mutations may result from radiation exposure — women treated with chest radiation therapy for lymphoma in childhood or during adolescence when breasts are developing have a significantly higher incidence of breast cancer than do women not exposed to radiation. Mutations may also develop as a result of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tobacco and charred red meats.

Researchers are now trying to discover whether a relationship exists between a person's genetic makeup and environmental factors that may increase the risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer eventually may prove to have a number of causes.-

Answer 8

There is a high risk of getting breast cancer and it's really only something to worry about if your mother and grandmother were over the age of 45 when they developed it. The genetic testing is expensive and not always right and the answer might worry you for years to come. I myself wouldn't recommend it after having it for something else myself. So many options are out there so I would do some research and find out which one you think is best for you.

Answer 9

I'm sorry to tell you this. you are at VERY HIGH risk of developing breast cancer. it is a genetic disease for you. however you might NOT DEVELOP BREAST CANCER. there are precautions to it. for instance, drink red wine 3 times weekly, exercise, diet, etc.... look it up! it is avoidable.


I know how bad it is to have somebody you love diagnosed with breast cancer. My mother was diagnosed with cancer and kept telling me; not my little brother or her ex-husband(my dad) about the cancer. I guess I was prepared for it because she explained what was going on everyday and what I should do at certain points in my life. such the way i should treat women or girlfriends and such.
I was lucky. she didn't die from it but I did learn a lot. Not about cancer but about life. or maybe, the experience of me dealing with my mom dying.
get tested and try to avoid the cancer.

Answer 10

definately get checked every 6 months to a year. age doesnt really play a factor. i am a breast canccer survivor at the age of 25. i was diognosed when i was 20 and went through chemo and radiation. same family history here but my grandma was 68 and my mom 52