Hello -
My mom is 57 years old and has both breast cancer (stage I, grade II) and ovarian cancer (stage IV, grade III). Both were diagnosed withina few months of eachother and doctors told us that they are indeed separate cancers (i.e., it's not the breast cancer that metastasized to the ovaries). The gyne oncologists have also become interested in me and had started throwinga round genetic testing for my mom for BRCA1 and BRCA2 a few months ago. At first I was very scared about it, but, being 34 years old and with no children yet, I feel that I need to find out results so that I can plan ahead. We have filled out the family history questionnaire, and found that my mom has had 5 aunts who have also had ovarian cancer. This scares me, and I am wondering if that means that I'd almost be 'guaranteed' to have the mutation. These are some questions I haven't been able to find answers to yet, so am hoping someone can shed some light:
1) If the same person has both breast cancer and ovarian cancer, what are their chances of this being genetic vs. sporadic? (Looking for percentages here).
2) If this patient does have the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutations, what are the chances that is has been passed on to me? (Looking for percentages here).
3) If I am later found to have the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutation, how much does that increase my chances of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer in my lifetime?
4) What precautions can I take to decrease my risk? I have been on a combined birth control pill for over two years. Does it matter exactly which one takes to decrease one's risk? (I am on Yaz).
I am terrified of being told that I should have my ovaries and whatnot removed by, say, age 40. Mr. Right is nowhere in sight for me, and beinga ble to have children has been a lifelong dream. Part of me wishes now that I hadn't put my career ahead of family for so long. This disease really is difficult to deal with.
Thank you!
Aglaia