Concerned about breast cancer!?!
Question: Heres the gist of it
My mom was diagnosed with breat cancer 3 years ago.
Hers was a vigorous type of cancer. Luckily she went for regular mamograms and they caught it early
She has been in remmition for the past 2 years and is happy and healthy.
My aunt (my moms older sister) was diagnosed shortly after and has been in remmition for 1 1/2 years.
My mom did a genetics test to see whether it ran in my family for concern of my daughter and I. The doctors told her it didnt.
So my question is do I run a higher risk of getting cancer because I am in a direct blood line???
Please help Im scared.
Answers: Heres the gist of it
My mom was diagnosed with breat cancer 3 years ago.
Hers was a vigorous type of cancer. Luckily she went for regular mamograms and they caught it early
She has been in remmition for the past 2 years and is happy and healthy.
My aunt (my moms older sister) was diagnosed shortly after and has been in remmition for 1 1/2 years.
My mom did a genetics test to see whether it ran in my family for concern of my daughter and I. The doctors told her it didnt.
So my question is do I run a higher risk of getting cancer because I am in a direct blood line???
Please help Im scared.
If your mum has been tested and the doctors say she doesn't have the faulty gene then her breast cancer was not genetic and you are not at increased risk. Approximately one in nine women will get breast cancer at some point, and age is the biggest risk factor (80% of breast cancer cases occur in women over 50), so it would seem that your mum's and aunt's cancers were random, as the majority of cases are. Only 5 - 10% of breast cancer cases are due to hereditary factors.
You are wise to be breast conscious though.
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Someone here has told you that breast cancer is down to lifestyle - it is not. It's just that it's much easier and less frightening for people like that to believe that other people's cancer can be blamed on diet, stress, whatever, than to accept it's a random disease that can strike any of us at any time.
Unfortunately, there is no set age. If your mom had cancer, then yes, your chances of getting cancer are greater than if your mom didn't have cancer. To be on the safe side, go to your physican and tell him/her of your concerns and the cancer that runs in your family. A person is never too young to have cancer or even a heart attack for that matter. Better to be safe than sorry. Have a mammogram done and do self breast exams to check for lumps and then continue to have a mammogram done annually.
If the she really took a test and the doctor said that it wasn't genetic then it is probably lifestyle...since you probably live like she does, you still have a chance, and need to have regular mammograms, this just means that it is not because of genetics.
It can happen at any age. I'm not sure if there is a particular age range where it's more likely to happen though.
With breast cancer being in your family, I would think there is a greater chance of you getting it, but I wouldn't worry. You aren't guaranteed to get it or extremely likely to get it just because your mom and aunt had it. Just make sure you get checked out regularly like your mom did/does. Like you said, if it's caught early it's easier to take care of.
I do have a tip for preventing breast cancer. I was doing research on breastfeeding/breastmilk a few days ago and nursing reduces the chances of getting breast cancer. Also, breastmilk has been used to help cancer patients. Those going through chemo can drink it and it'll help with the nausea for one thing. Breastmilk is also full of antibodies that fight all kinds of ailments and there's research being done to see if a cure for cancer can be found using it.
I'm not sure how old your daughter is or anything, but if you do have any other children, you could try nursing. It's better for the baby anyway and good for you too.
I wouldn't worry so much about it. Even if you get breast cancer, it can be taken care of and you'll have your family to help support you. Another thing to note is stress can have some really bad side effects and worrying tends to stress people out. It'll be ok. :)
God bless.