I was glad I did the BRCA testing but I like to know these things. My brother who has cancer decided not to get BRCA tested. I am the first in my family to be tested. All my siblings knew our genetics and none of us had children so that is not an issue.
As has been said BRCA 1 responds to cancer treatment better than the general population.
Good luck to you. This journey is not the end of the world as I thought at the beginning. I got involved with local cancer support and that makes a big difference.
I am riding horses. I started when I got diagnosed with MS. My husband drags me to the barn when I get sick and depressed and it is the best thing for me. I rode the day before surgery, during Chemo once and after treatment. I kept pictures of the horse I ride with me and my riding buddies during chemo and surgery to have a goal. Goals are good.
I also walked when I could. After surgery, early chemo. I walked my dogs for hours. Later is chemo just short distances but I walked.
Alex
I had a bad cold, doctors ordered chest xrays, they saw something odd at the lower part of the chest xray. two days later I had a CT scan. two days later I had an ultra sound. three days later I got a call to go now (that Morning) to see an ob/gyn doctor. he told me he thought it was cancer. I had to go home for family support and to have surgery. A gyn oncologist removed all the female parts and a 10lb. 4oz. tumor that turned out to be 40% clear cell car. ovarian cancer. It's now six weeks later and I'm back at work, over a thousand miles from any family and I start chemo tomorrow morning.
I'm 53 years young and I have to work. That has been my goal from the beginning, get back to work. I think if you have a larger plan beyond cancer it helps you get through it without a lot of crying.
Every appointment I went to I asked the same question, how long will I be out of work? I do think about this thing that has invaded my body but it just makes me mad, I have a lot of responsibilities and I don't have the time to put cancer on my to-do list!
Hang it there. Give yourself something to do in a couple of months and head toward that. Don't let cancer be the thing that your always headed toward. We have to take care of it but we don't have to put it above everything else in our lives.
That's how I'm dealing with this bump in the road and I pray that everyone out there can find a light to look past cancer.
Alex - being BRCA positive has it's bonuses too, they say that those that test positive for BRCA respond better to chemo!!!! Stay positive. Attitude is a big part of this journey.
Amanurse - BRCA testing isn't a bad idea, but, just be certain that you go through counceling and use the info in a positive way. How old is your daughter? There are many women that are on the winning sides of the odds even in stage 3 and 4. I know a 27 year stage 3 survivor and someone else, 8 years stage 4. When are you scheduled for surgery?
Hi Alex , my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years ago , do you think it's worth asking about being tested for the brca gene as I have a daughter to consider too, thanks
I can't say how your story will come out. No one can. I can only tell you of my journey. I am also 49 and that is where I was in May. I had surgery with in a week. They took all my female organs, the omentum, and past of my rectum. My only real discomfort from the surgery was gas pain. I had to walk a lot to get the gas out. I was in the hospital a week, They put a port in the day after surgery to do chemo. I lost weight after surgery. Then a month later I started my six rounds of chemo. I did not check out my first doctor and hospital well and they gave no support so I switched after my third chemo. I just never saw doctors after surgery. I lost too much weight during chemo and ended up in bad shape because of the first hospital.
I am through chemo and happy and back to my old self. I feel better than I did before surgery and chemo. My tumors were effecting my diaphragm and I was so blocked I could not eat. I now have to watch it my appetite is so good.
I was told my cancer is a chronic illness. I have my port still but I am used to it. I do not have to do anything to it. I will have to do chemo again but not at this moment. My CA125 is still low. I go every three months for a blood draw and see the doctor. I had a CT after chemo and so far so good.
There is no time table. I know women who go 15 years working and living a normal life. That is what I am hoping.
I have another glitch they found in my case I am BRCA 1 positive which means I have a 85% chance of breast cancer but even that I try to love with. So far I have had a clean tests for that.
I am stage IIIc. I am no a statistic. I read too much and scared myself. Now I realize there is a lot of old data on the internet. I have MS too and it has not taken me like many with MS. I am still very active riding horses, training dogs, painting animal paintings. Once I got over the fear my life is better than it ever was. I forgot how sick I was.
Hang in there.
Alex