Anyone know about genetic testing and relationship to breast and endometrial cancer?

[Imajerk]

Hi. Just saw my GYN for my annual exam and pap, and we discussed many things, including my family history. My father had colon cancer before age 50. He's 73, alive and kicking and gets scoped every 18 months or so. He's had polyps here and there but I've never seen him have to go through anything major since the first cancer incidence, thank god! No FAP etc.

I know that there are genes for colon cancer that have associated increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer along with them.  I was considering genetic counseling and testing for these reasons, but whether or not my insurance would cover all the tests ( it seems like five or more genes for colon cancer can be tested for), or any, is uncertain at this point. I called them and they would need a specific code just to see, and I don't have that to offer yet so...

Anyway, I was tooling around online ( I'm a cyberchondriac so this is usually not a good idea for me), and noticed that the Memorial Sloan Kettering site says of Colon Cancer and gene testing that removal of the colon may be recommended in some cases??????

I have had two colonoscopies so far. One at age 40 and one at age 45. I am currently 46. Both scopes came out squeaky clean per the gastroenterologist.

So, has anyone had a situation where they are perfectly fine but had a gene test done that resulted in a suggestion to remove their colon as a preventative measure? This seems rather drastic to me unless you have a serious condition already like FAP, attenuated, etc.

Also, does anyone perchance know the genes for colon cancer that ARE connected to breast and/or endometrial cancers? Is ATC ( is that right?) the one?

Seeing that Sloan Kettering bit just scared me right off of even finding out.  Honestly I was thinking about it as much as a way of preventing the other women's cancers as colon.  I've thought a lot about this and I am pretty sure I would have no issue removing my breasts or uterus or ovaries to save myself, but removing the colon is an entire other ball game; one which I know many people here have had no choice but to play.

Thank you and I wish you all the best!!! You are all courageous! Life is such a roulette wheel!