Why should I talk to my doctor about getting BRCA tested?

Hi Anon,

Thank you for visiting the EmpowHER community and sharing your question about BRCA testing. Do you have a family history of breast cancer, or any type of cancer? If your answer is yes you have a higher risk factor for developing breast cancer.

If you have a family history, I would certainly talk to your doctor about taking the BRCA testing to find out if you have the mutation. Your doctor should be open to discussing this with you. 

If you inherit the mutated BRCA genes from either parent you will have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In some families the risk can be as high as 80 percent. With these staggering numbers, I personally would want to know if I inherited the gene.

Early detection of breast cancer has proven to save so many women's lives. 

Here is an article from the EmpowHER community you might find useful. There's a ton of info and discussions on BRCA testing on the site. You can put the term "BRCA test" in the search bar and find valuable information.

https://www.empowher.com/breast-cancer/content/how-family-history-affects-your-risk-breast-cancer

Please tell me a bit more about your family history and your thoughts on BRCA testing. 

Best,

Kristin