Re: Fw: WSJ/Testing for Cancer Genes Allows for Earlier Detection

[Guest guest]

I have something to say about this. I am at a very high

risk for breast CA because every female on my mother's

side of the family has had it and my maternal g-mother

(and the others before her) all had mastectomies. My

mom was dx'd w/ breast CA the same month that I was told

I had to have heart surgery (Aug 1999). My mother

underwent a lumpectomy, and when the lump was tested, it

was for the bad estrogen one (estrogen + or -, I can't

remember). So, this means that she can't take the

medicine that is normally given to women because she

won't respond to it. She was told to have a mastectomy

w/ implants, and she did a lot of hard thinking on it.

She opted to not undergo the surgery, and instead to

undergo grueling chemo and radiation for 6 months. She

made it through that, and is now CA free, but twice now

has found a lump in her breast, which turned out to be

benign.

Anyway, because of my strong familial history, I became

concerned about my risk, esp w/ having had implants.

So, I did some checking and found that some docs

recommended that my sister and I have our first

mammograms done at the age of 30 (I'm 31 and she's 29).

I then proceeded to blow the whole thing off and instead

got info on genetic counseling and testing. I rec'd the

video and info packet and to this day, have not looked

at the video. It is still wrapped up in the plastic it

came in.

If anyone would be interested in viewing this video,

please let me know and I can mail it to you; or Martha,

or someone, if you want it to make part of

your " library " you can do that as well. I don't think

that I will watch it. I have too many health problems

and I think that if I underwent genetic testing and it

came back as high risk or that I had the gene, I would

really have a hard time with insurance paying for

anything.

But anyone who wants it, just let me know. It also

gives info about where to get the testing and counseling

done, the fallout from insurance finding out, etc.

e

> FYI - for all of us at risk for cancer; especially now, Breast Cancer!

>

> MM / NSIF

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: ruby rahn

> Ruby Rahn

> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 7:24 PM

> Subject: WSJ/Testing for Cancer Genes Allows for Earlier Detection

>

>

> WALL STREET JOURNAL

>

> August 31, 2001

>

> Health Journal

>

> Testing for Cancer Genes Allows for Earlier Detection

>

> By TARA PARKER-POPE

> Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

>

> SHOULD YOU BE tested for a cancer gene? Although most cancer is

> unpredictable, a small percentage of the population carries a gene mutation

that

> drastically increases the risk for certain types. Cancer genes linked to

breast,

> ovarian, colon, and some uterine and thyroid cancers have been identified.

>

> Testing for cancer genes can allow for earlier detection and preventive

> treatments. But countless more people worry that they carry a genetic time

bomb

> when they may have no particular increased risk.

>

> Not everyone with cancer has the cancer genes, and simply having a relative

> with cancer doesn't necessarily increase your risk for carrying the genes. At

> the

> same time, some doctors and patients are ignoring critical information -- such

> as

> breast cancer patterns on a father's side of the family -- that may make

certain

> patients good candidates for genetic testing.

>

> The most common cancer genes for which patients are tested are the BRCA1

> and BRCA2 genes, which increase risk for breast and ovarian cancer. About one

> in 700 women carries one of the genes, and the risk is about one in 50 among

> Eastern European Jews.

>

> THE LIFETIME RISK for breast cancer for the general population is 11% to

> 12%, while the risk for ovarian cancer is 1% to 2%. The presence of a

> breast-cancer gene increases lifetime risk to 50% to 85%. Ovarian cancer risk

> jumps to 20% to 40% for the BRCA1 gene and 10% to 20% for the BRCA2

> gene.

>

> The MLH1 and MSH2 genes increase risk for colon and endometrial cancers.

> Generally, the risk of colon cancer is about 6% before the age of 70. However,

> people with the colon-cancer genes may have a lifetime risk as high as 70%.

> Gene testing is also available for less common cancers.

>

> Because there are so many variables affecting genetic risk, it's best to start

> with

> a genetic counselor. " It's hard to find a family tree that doesn't have

somebody

> with breast cancer, " says Schneider, president-elect of the National

> Society of Genetic Counselors. " That's why we pay attention to the pattern of

> cancer in the family. "

>

> Genetic counseling is free at some research centers, while other hospitals

> charge

> from $75 to $200. Insurance coverage varies. Most doctors can recommend a

> counselor, or patients can search for one through the National Society of

> Genetic

> Counselors Web site, www.nsgc.org/resourcelink.asp1.

>

> Genetic counselors take an extensive family history, often identifying

patterns

> that

> aren't obvious to patients, or even to their doctors. Breast cancer that

appears

> in

> a family when people are in their 20s, 30s or 40s, for example, is more likely

> due

> to an inherited gene than cancer that shows up after age of 50. Although many

> women worry about breast cancer in their mother's family, half of those with

> breast-cancer genes inherited them from their fathers. A family history of

> ovarian

> cancer at any age puts a person at higher risk for a cancer gene.

>

> COUNSELORS USE computer models to determine the risk for carrying a

> cancer gene. Generally, only people with a risk of 10% or greater for having

the

> gene are tested. Even so, people who remain worried and still want the test

are

> eligible to have it, but it's unlikely insurance will cover the cost. About

half

> those

> tested have had cancer but want guidance for future treatment.

>

> Lazar, 36, of Chicago recently sought genetic counseling because her

> mother died of breast cancer. But she hasn't decided whether to have the test.

> She already gets regular screenings and wouldn't opt for preventive drugs or

> surgery if she tested positive. " Having someone in my family with cancer makes

> my risk higher, but maybe not as high as I thought it would be, " she says.

>

> To get the most meaningful result, genetic testers start with the person most

> likely

> to have the gene mutation. For instance, a woman who wants gene testing

> because her aunt and mother developed breast cancer likely wouldn't be tested

> first -- the mother or aunt would be. If the cancer gene is found, other

family

> members would be tested.

>

> Gene testing starts with a simple blood test, and results take about three

> weeks.

> The breast-cancer gene test costs $2,680 and insurance coverage varies. Myriad

> Genetics of Salt Lake City is the only company that does the initial

> breast-cancer

> gene tests. Once a mutation is found, testing other family members costs about

> $315 each. Colon-cancer-gene testing is available through a handful of labs

and

> costs between $1,700 and $2,000.

>

> Many patients worry about losing coverage or paying higher rates if an

insurance

> company knows they have a cancer gene, but experts say there hasn't been a

> single such case reported. About two-thirds of the people Myriad tests have

> insurance pay, says medical director Tom .

>

> Once a patient knows they have a gene, they can opt for more regular

> mammograms or colonoscopies, preventive drugs such as Tamoxifen,

> prophylactic removal of their breasts or ovaries, or in the case of someone

who

> has had colon cancer, more extensive surgery to prevent recurrence.

>

> " There are great differences in the medical management of people who don't

> have these genes and people who do, " says Jill Stopfer, familial cancer

> coordinator for the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.

>

> E-mail comments to healthjournal@...

>

> Hyperlinks in this Article:

> (1) http://www.nsgc.org/resourcelink.asp

> (2) mailto:healthjournal@...

>

> Copyright © 2001 Dow & Company, Inc.

> .

>

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