I decided to go have the Brac blood test to see if I carry the breast cancer gene(marker). Although I realize that I might not have it now it could always come in the future. My sister was a breast cancer survivor. Nothing is set in stone. Neither of my parents have cancer of any kind and they are into their 80's. None of my grandparents did either. However, I have decided against having the AD test after a lenghty discussion with my own Neurologist. She said to me, " what exactly would you change about your life right now if you knew you would get AD in the future or any other catastrophic disease? I didn't really have an answer. I told her I would not change anything about my life right now. I try to eat right, exercise, and enjoy each moment in life. That is the benefit of having someone in Hospice. It makes you look differently about life..right now and in this moment. Well on second thought , I would travel more and get to the spa more for stress. She said, well both of those can be achieved without a genetic test!
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Haralee: is there an ethnic predisposition to the BRCA-1 gene? I ask because you mentioned an uncle and being Jewish.
August 21, 2008 - 4:19pmThis Comment
Knowledge is power. I had it done after genetic counseling said it looked about 80% chance of having it, I had breast cancer already and an uncle died of breast cancer, Jewish, and a sister had breast cancer, but the genes did not show! Was like a yoke off my neck. I did have a game plan if it did come out positive and I think that helped me with coping until the results came in.
August 21, 2008 - 10:52amGood luck can happen.
Wishing you the best
This Comment
Sunny, I agree with Alysia. You are a woman to be admired and offer an interesting perspective. You may also find this post interesting regarding another woman who at an early age made the same choice Christina Applegate did. She is the author of a book called "Pretty Is What Changes." Wishing you the best of health.
August 21, 2008 - 9:54amThis Comment
You have my admiration, thoughts and prayers and I hope your doctor is right.
What Christina Applegate decided to do, knowing she carried the gene BRCA1 and her chances of breast cancer being very high, is beyond remarkable. She voiced pretty much what you're saying about how facing the possibilities make you view life differently.
Here's wishing you a long and healthy life.
August 20, 2008 - 7:34pmThis Comment