Bad Genes

So this morning I met with a genetic counselor to discuss my going for genetic testing. I asked my doctor for this referral as my mom found out in January that she is a carrier of a genetic mutation they have labeled BRCA1. Pretty much if you have this mutation you have quite high odds of developing breast or ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer for men. The percentages are quite staggering, up to a 70% chance of developing breast cancer in your lifetime. Pre-cancer I had planned on going for this testing, as knowing you carry this mutation allows you to go for more screening earlier in life. As I already know that I have breast cancer it is very very likely that I carry this mutation as well. I didn't really learn anything new that will assist with my treatment at this appointment, but it was very interesting. For women who carry this mutation they recommend that screening begin at 25. This is very good, as pre-cancer I was told that I shouldn't have anything to worry about until I hit my 40's. I also was told that the odds of having this gene, if they just took a random sample for people off the street was 1/800. This is not the type of lottery I want to win! So for me now what does this mean. Well I was already planning on having surgery if I am able to, to prevent further breast cancers. It also means that I may want to have a hysterectomy young too...dependent of if I want or can have children. These are definitely things that I did not expect to have to worry about at 27.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. I will get my blood taken at noon to make sure I am good to go for chemo #4 on Wednesday, and at 1:30 I will be meeting with my oncologist. This is the day when I get the results of my CAT scan and bone scan. I am not too worried about these test results anymore as I know that things are shrinking in 2/3 places....I am sure that tomorrow I will be told that it is shrinking everywhere. It would be extremely rare/unlikely for it to be working in my breast and sternum but not in my lymph nodes. It will still be highly stressful. I have prepared a long list of questions to ask the doctor, some of the answers might be difficult for me to hear, but they are questions that have been in my mind for a while. I will have my "entourage" with me so make sure my questions all get asked (sometimes when I am nervous I forget things and just want to get stressful situations over with :). I am confident that tomorrow will be a good day and there will need to be some sort of celebration tomorrow night!