Breast Cancer Gene Question

[MaryJane87]

I am 21 years old. My mother had breast cancer at age 45, when I was 3 years old. 2 1/2 years later she had it again in the other breast. She died when I was 10 with agressive cancer in her brain and stomach. Cancer has always terrified me, but now I'm more scared than ever.
I knew I had a bigger chance of having breast cancer, but I recently found out about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and one of the things they say is that people who've had cancer on both breasts are likely to have it. I'm so afraid my mother had it and I have it too.
My question is: how often do women who do NOT have the BRCA gene mutation have cancer on both breasts? Was it possible that her 1st cancer was in an advanced stage and then spread to the other breast? She had me at a late age and I wasn't breast fed, I heard that increases the chances for b.c.
I know that women who have the gene have an 80% chance of getting breast cancer and I'm really concerned. My grandmother (my mother's mother) also had cancer, but it wasn't breast or ovarian cancer so I don't think it is related to the gene.
If anyone has any information about cancer on both breasts and it's relation with the cancer gene I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

[MaryJane87]

Hello and thanks for your answer!

I will talk to my gyne, in fact I have an appointment next week. I always thought that knowing is always better than living in fear but I'm afraid to get tested because if I do have the gene then it is almost certain I'll have the cancer, and that is really scary. I know a lot of women who are b.c. survivors, but unfortunately mym mom wasn't one of them, so it's hard for me to be optimistic towards my own situation.
I heard that genetic testing is really expensive but in my situation I guess it's worth it. I just wish I was better informed about my mom's case, my father doesn't like to talk about it and I don't think he knows many of the details. I don't even know what was her stage when she was diagnosed.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted and thanks again for your answer. I hope it all goes well for you. I can't believe your gyne told you that your father's side of the family wasn't important, I've always been told that both sides matter equally... Talk about misinformation...!

[healingwell62]

Hi there,

I'm a BRCA2 gal.  I just completed a year of cancer treatment on December 31, 2008.  I didn't know I had the gene until I was half way through my treatment.  Needless to say I wasn't thrilled, but on the other hand, facts are important because you can deal with them.  I learned that my paternal aunt and grandmother had had breast cancer and another paternal aunt had uterine cancer.  My gyne's had always told me that my father's side of the family wasn't important.  That was certainly misinformation!

I would recommend you discuss your questions with your gyne.  See if you can be tested for the genes.  It's not that you want to know -- you need to know.  You can't deal with fears and possibilities, you can only deal with facts.  

Please go talk to your gyne, ok?  And keep in touch with me.  I want to know how you are doing.  Feel free to private message me, all right?

Warm regards,

Chris
Healingwell62
Breast Cancer 1 & 2 Community Leader