breast cancer

[mrsbrown]

this is a reminder to myself to read the packet of materials from kConfab and send in the permission form so I can get genetic testing and, along with other members of my family, contribute to breast cancer research.

It's interesting to think about what I would do if I had the breast cancer gene, which isn't unlikely as I have 2 aunt's who've survived breast cancer, and a grandmother, grandfather and uncle who didn't survive their cancers (not breast). I don't think I would get my breasts cut off, certainly not before Rose has finished using them.

Anyway, I'll fill in the form, do the questionaire and hand over my blood. Then we'll see what happens.

btw, when I first got the letter, I thought it was a science fiction fan thing - just another use of the letters "con" in a word.

Comments

[hnpcc]

Heh, I used to share a lab and office with them. Out of curiosity, which cancers did your grandmother, grandfather and uncle have? And were they young or old when diagnosed?

Erm, feel free to ignore this if the info's too personal, it's the ex-cancer scientist in me coming out.

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

grandmother - leukemia, early 60's
grandfather - "stomach cancer", late 30's
uncle - lung cancer first I think, then a brain tumour, 50ish. He smoked like a chimney.

[hnpcc]

Interesting, particularly your grandfather. There are a few mutations which seem to be linked to broader spectrum cancers as well as breast.

Then again, he could just have been shockingly unlucky. It happens.

[damned-colonial.livejournal.com]

I was thinking the other day about mastectomies and those mastectomy bras they have, and I was thinking, if that happened to me, I'd just say "take 'em both" and do without. I think I was thinking of it in the context of a friend of mine in the US who's FtM transgendered and did something similar only wrt "breast reduction" surgery, where his health insurance would cover medical reduction if you had back pain or whatever, so he just said "fine, reduce them to zero."