Quick round trip to London today.
Genetics appointment was longer than expected, well just because I wasn't expecting more than a blood test but instead we got an free science lesson. (8 weeks for the result!)
I'll be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2, these two genes are what make our bodies fight for cancerous cells on the breast and ovaries (for women) and prostate, pancreas and breast (for men). If there's a mutation (and that's what they are trying to find out) means that one of them is not working properly and our body can't fight cancerous cells and develops it.
But apparently only 15% of the triple negative kinds of cancer (It's the one that I've got - means it's negative for the three types of hormones, as in was not developed by hormone changes) have this mutation of this gene - so that means that 85% of people with breast cancer doesn't have a clue what caused the cancer. Now your question will be: Which one is best? - Well you can answer that one yourself.
Knowing that - If you've got the gene mutation, your gene mutation might have come from your family and they might still be at risk of developing any kind of cancer, can be passed on to your babies (if you have IVF they'll pick the embryos with the negative mutation and that's a bit better), then you can make the decision of removing both of your breasts and ovaries to prevent this from going through this hell again (exactly what Angelina Jolie did). And your family members have a better idea what is expecting them and we can prevent things from happening.
or
If you haven't got the gene mutation, you can belong to the 85% that have no idea what caused it, the risks of developing cancer again are less but not completely null so you still battle with the decision of removing your breasts and your ovaries because - just in case - you don't want this hell ever again.
Sorry for the science lesson, thought I'd share with you and make us all a bit more knowledgeable.
So a round trip and one blood sample later we're home with some Portuguese treats sent by mum and a few of good friends(R, C and R). Thank you all!
Tomorrow is CT CAP and Fertility appointment day, big day I'd say! All crossed!
P.x
Genetics appointment was longer than expected, well just because I wasn't expecting more than a blood test but instead we got an free science lesson. (8 weeks for the result!)
I'll be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2, these two genes are what make our bodies fight for cancerous cells on the breast and ovaries (for women) and prostate, pancreas and breast (for men). If there's a mutation (and that's what they are trying to find out) means that one of them is not working properly and our body can't fight cancerous cells and develops it.
But apparently only 15% of the triple negative kinds of cancer (It's the one that I've got - means it's negative for the three types of hormones, as in was not developed by hormone changes) have this mutation of this gene - so that means that 85% of people with breast cancer doesn't have a clue what caused the cancer. Now your question will be: Which one is best? - Well you can answer that one yourself.
Knowing that - If you've got the gene mutation, your gene mutation might have come from your family and they might still be at risk of developing any kind of cancer, can be passed on to your babies (if you have IVF they'll pick the embryos with the negative mutation and that's a bit better), then you can make the decision of removing both of your breasts and ovaries to prevent this from going through this hell again (exactly what Angelina Jolie did). And your family members have a better idea what is expecting them and we can prevent things from happening.
or
If you haven't got the gene mutation, you can belong to the 85% that have no idea what caused it, the risks of developing cancer again are less but not completely null so you still battle with the decision of removing your breasts and your ovaries because - just in case - you don't want this hell ever again.
Sorry for the science lesson, thought I'd share with you and make us all a bit more knowledgeable.
So a round trip and one blood sample later we're home with some Portuguese treats sent by mum and a few of good friends(R, C and R). Thank you all!
Tomorrow is CT CAP and Fertility appointment day, big day I'd say! All crossed!
P.x
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