| Testing for breast cancer is quite expensive. That's | | | | the rest of your life, so you had better do it well. A |
| because the really hard work is searching for the | | | | research center will have counseling and you will do |
| specific mutation. It's like proofreading the whole | | | | the tests appropriately, giving you the most accurate |
| manuscript to find the typographical error; once you | | | | information that's possible. |
| know where it is, finding it in other copies is fairly | | | | When you yourself have breast cancer, the |
| easy. Initially, there was great fear that there would | | | | emotional conflict becomes more intense. You tend |
| be insurance discrimination against women who have | | | | to think that you're unlucky and that you're bound to |
| been tested. So far, this has not proved to be the | | | | get it again, so you think you must have the |
| case. Still, it would be wise to check out the policy of | | | | defective gene. Further, your own psychological |
| your health insurance company before proceeding. | | | | issues get mixed into your perceptions. Were you |
| Additionally, it isn't only you who will need to deal | | | | mean to your mother when she had breast cancer, |
| with the consequence of your decision. It will have | | | | so now you're being punished by inheriting a bad |
| implications for your sisters who may or may not | | | | gene? |
| want to get tested. It will also have implications for | | | | There are, of course, more rational reasons for |
| your daughters, if any, as well. | | | | women with breast cancer to consider getting |
| If you choose to be tested and you know you have | | | | tested. They may want to know if others in their |
| the gene for breast cancer, you will need to decide | | | | family are likely to get it. They might consider having |
| what to do with the information. Should you start | | | | children and the possibility of passing on a breast |
| getting regular mammograms and physical | | | | cancer gene could play a role in that decision. Women |
| examinations? If your family has a history of breast | | | | with cancer in one breast are more likely to get it in |
| cancer, you should be doing that anyway. If you do | | | | the other and they might want to consider getting |
| have the gene, you have a number of options. You | | | | double mastectomies if they know they have the |
| can simply be frequently monitored to see if you do | | | | gene. People with the defective gene have a slightly |
| get cancer. Should you have your breasts and | | | | higher risk of getting colon cancer as well. So if you |
| ovaries removed? Preventive oophorectomy (ovary | | | | know you have the gene, you should consider |
| resection) and mastectomy (breast resection) may | | | | getting regular colonoscopies (a medical procedure |
| help. You can take tamoxifen for 5 years. | | | | during which a long flexible instrument is used to view |
| If you feel strongly that you should get tested, you | | | | the entire inner lining of the colon). |
| should do so at a research center. Do not go to your | | | | The question of testing depends on you and your |
| gynecologist or primary care physician, or to the | | | | family. The answer will be different for each person. |
| medical school in the next town. Even if it costs a lot | | | | If you are considering it, by all means get counseling |
| to fly to wherever the closest research center is, do | | | | so that you can get up-to-date information on the |
| it. You will only do this once and it will greatly affect | | | | risks and benefits for you and your family. |