Results from Genetics

We got the results back from genetic testing this week and the results are good! 


I do not have any of the genetic gene mutations that they were testing for.  Woohoo! They were mostly testing for the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes.  You may have heard of them in the news (Angelina Jolie...).  They were also testing for a few other gene mutations.  The idea behind these gene mutations is that there are certain genes that basically don't do their job in fighting cancer, and we were finding out if that is a missing link in my DNA. 


I have cancer anyway, but the reason that this is such good news is that if I had the gene, it would be something that my siblings could possibly have and my children could inherit.  My family members would have had to have testing. Now, it is as simple as my sisters getting mammograms every year for screening. The gene mutation also would have meant that I would have had a higher chance of getting other cancers in my lifetime, like ovarian cancer. So it is great that I don't have that.  I have no greater risk of getting ovarian cancer than the next 27 year old.


Then why did I get cancer?  We will never know.  It seems as though their is a slight genetic predisposition because my maternal grandmother had breast cancer post-menopause.  However, the main cause is something that we will never know.  And I am okay with that answer.  I would prefer the unknown over the genetic mutation. Overall, it is good to have some good news in the midst of this!