Question About Breast Cancer

my doctor asked me if anyone in my family has ever had breast cancer and I said yes my grandmother on my fathers side and they said it didn't matter on the fathers side. Then i was told that wasn't true! Does anyone know?

 

On 2/21/2008 karen30 wrote:

my doctor asked me if anyone in my family has ever had breast cancer and I said yes my grandmother on my fathers side and they said it didn't matter on the fathers side. Then i was told that wasn't true! Does anyone know?

Hey Karen, My dad's mom had breast cancer, My Mom had breast cancer, and at 46 I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Not sure how to answer your question.

Kimarie

Kimarie

Thanks! I guess what I want to ask is if my dad's mother had it , cna it be passed on to me? I have to have an ultra sound and a mommagram and I am totally freaking out! how are you doing now?

 

On 2/21/2008 karen30 wrote:

Thanks! I guess what I want to ask is if my dad's mother had it , cna it be passed on to me? I have to have an ultra sound and a mommagram and I am totally freaking out! how are you doing now?

Hi, Karen30,

Not to scare you, but no one in my family, on either side, ever had breast. I was diagnosed in October 2006 after finding a lump in my left breast during a shower. I went through all the screenings and the biopsies and had a lumpectomy in December 2006, fortunately my lymph nodes were not involved. I was given mammosite radiation the week immediately following the surgery; 2 treatments a day for 5 days, more aggressive than every day for 30 days. My Chemo began the first week of January 2007. I was told that my body produces a natural protein that allows cancer cells to develop; therefore, I am also receiving Herceptin infusions. It is to block the protein so that further cancer cells won't grow. I am also on Arimidex, an oral chemo medication that is to kill of any cells not  gotten with all other treatments.

However, while I was not able to work any more through the treatments(because they were so aggressive and in quick succession), it was liveable. My chemo lasted 6 months and I will finish my Herceptin infusions in April. The Arimidex is no fun, but I am "living" with it.

Here's the thing, you don't have to panic. The fact that the lumps have been found is a blessing. Breast Cancer treatment has come a long way and is so much more tolerable than even 10 years ago. The radiation exhausted me, granted, but the chemo went easier because they now have a medication you take the day of treatment and the following two days that prevents nausea, which is usually the part that made it so hard in the past for people. I was lucky because my GP sent me to a cancer surgeon immediately, who did the biopsy and lumpectomy and in turn sent me to an oncologyst at a cancer center after my surgery. My oncologyst was agressive enough to do further tests on my biopsy and blood work to discover the protein problem. He did this because no one on either side of my family had ever had breast cancer.

The worst thing you could do would be to avoid further testing. Follow your doctors' advice, ask lots of questions and don't be afraid. While it has been a whirlwind experience, I am a survivor and you will be too, whether your tests are positive or negative.

God Bless and Good Luck!

You inherit genes from both your mom and dad so yes you can have your dad's maternal genes but you may not.  If a male blood relative has prostrate cancer this can also be related to breast.  There are other types of cancer which could also be related if you have certain syndromes.  I like someone else who posted do not have a family history of BC but was also diagnosed 4 years ago.  Statistics show most woman who develop BC have no history in their family.  But if there is a strong history, you have an increased chance in developing this disease.  Hope this helps!  All woman are at risk and it increases with age whether prior history or not.

I am not sure it matters or not but I would insist on the brca gene test.  I had no immediate family history (i.e. mom, sister, aunt, or grandma).  I am 34 and tested positive for brca 1 test. only 7% of breast cancer patients carry the gene but if you do your chances of getting a second breast cancer and ovarian cancer increase. I have a sister and a neice who are going to get tested because of this.  if they carrry the gene they have a 50% chance of getting breast cancer by age 50.

Thanks girls! I had a daughter about 18 months ago and still have milk or whatever coming out. They tell me that's not normal and that's why they want me to get a mammogram! at first they just wanted an ultra sound cause the doc found what she thought was densed tissue. I go in for all this on the 3rd of march which is going to seem like forever.

 

On 2/22/2008 karen30 wrote:

Thanks girls! I had a daughter about 18 months ago and still have milk or whatever coming out. They tell me that's not normal and that's why they want me to get a mammogram! at first they just wanted an ultra sound cause the doc found what she thought was densed tissue. I go in for all this on the 3rd of march which is going to seem like forever.

Hello:

I had a great aunt on my Mom's side that had breast cancer..my Mom's only sister passed away a year ago with bladder cancer, her daughter died of luekemia..and my Dad from bladder cancer in 03... so I dont know what genetic link there may have been for me to end up with breast cancer.. my Mother is so far doing great as far as the cancer thing goes.. years ago after she had gone through menopause she had pre-cancerous polpys removed from her uterus or actually she had hysterectomy from that threat, but so far has not had any other concerns of that nature.. so where my breast cancer came from is still a mystery.. it just appears that there is cancer prevalent in my family on both sides and possible this made me more at risk..but who knows..  all we can do is hope we arent the one burdened with the disease and if we are then all we can do is fight it the best way we can..!  I think this stuff just pops up for no unknown reason sometimes..  I had a small tumor in 01 that was completely treated..it took 6 years for it to come back and is now stage lV..with an overexpression of the her2 gene.. which makes it an aggressive beast to fight.. dr. is still puzzled as to why it took it 6 years to come back..just one of those unknowns again..  life is weird and unfortunately we dont always have the answers to the puzzle we would like to have..  Good luck to you.. hope everything goes well for you in this journey..

God's blessings!

Jodie

My mother-in-law had breast cancer and I was told by a plastic surgeon that since it was on my husband's side of the family it did not increase my daughters chances.  Then after I was diagnosed last year, I mentioned that to my surgeon and was told that she couldn't believe a doctor had told me that because BC absolutely CAN be inherited fromt the father's side of the family. The important thing to realize is that 85% of new cancers are in women with NO FAMILY HISTORY, so everyone should be vigilant.

Karen30,

Just read your post and wondered what you found out?

Lemme know if you want to talk about it or whatever...I had bilat mast in May 2007, had expanders placed, silicone implants and nipple reconstruct in Dec. 2007 I am currently awaiting my final visit to my ps for tattoos...has been quite a whirl-wind of activity since my dx on my birthday 4-6-07!! 

Just let me know, it's good to talk, wish I'd have found these posts back when I was alone for so much...just wanna give back whatever I can...

blessings...