Brac gene 1

Hello and welcome to our community.

 

You ask an important question for your daughter. When it comes to breast cancer, education and early detection are key. Here's the American Cancer Society's Guidelines for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer:

 

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

   

• Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.

   

• Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.

   

• Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderately increased risk (15% to 20% lifetime risk) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram. Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.

 

Source: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_2_3X_ACS_Cancer_Detection_Guidelines_36.asp?sitearea=PED

 

Other helpful information for you:

 

Breast Cancer: Prevention and Lifestyle Factors

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/chemo-000006_3-145.html 

 

Top 10 Breast Cancer Risk Factors

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/15009/top-10-risk/

 

Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Detection: Insurance Needs to Step Up

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/20469/early-step/

 

It's great to see a parent aware of and determined to reduce a daughter's risk early on. Good for you. If I can help you find out more, just let me know.

 

Best,

Maria

Hi I know how worried you must be. I am in the same boat. My grandmother died from breast cancer 30 yrs ago. She was 54. My mother got diagnosed with it last yr in April. She was 55. She had a lumpectomy and radiation. She is doing ok in regards to cancer. (she has other issues not related to the cancer at this stage) and I got diagnosed in June last yr. I was 34 at the time. I had a lumpectomy initially, but had to got back for bilateral mastectomy and am now having chemo (since last Sept). Am up to my last taxol this week. Then have herceptin for the rest of this yr. Had lymph nodes removed also as it had spread to 3 of them. No cancer in right side but was advised that due to my age and family history better off having bilateral mastectomy to limit risk of recurrence. My mother has had the test for the genetic mutation (Brac1 and Brac2) but results are not back yet. Apparently this test can take months. I also have an 8 yr old daughter that I am very worried about. I am worried that I might not make it to help her to be vigilant in general health, but more specifically breast health, and I am also worried that whether I do or I dont make it (I am praying for making it) we may not be able to avoid it. And not only that, i am 35 now and the cloud hanging over my head at my age is depressing enough. To know that she is going to have to worry about it even earlier than me, I feel somewhat like a failure to know that even unknowingly I have put her in this position. But even more than that, I can deal with my own feelings but the thought of her being scared about this is what really gets to me. None of us want to see our children hurt or scared at any age, let alone when they are young and are supposed to be enjoying all that the world has to offer them. Anyway prayers and thoughts to everyone dealing with any kind of sickness. God bless us all.