Finally a Correct Diagnosis!

Aside from the BRCA subject(although it ends up being related), I have been ill for about 7 months. Miserable to say at the least. I have everything going for me, amazing family, wonderful friends, proactive healthy lifestyle. You can imagine my frustrations of why am I sick emotionally and physically. We have been to endless doctors, many blood tests, x-rays, gyno visits as well as two ER trips with no answers as to why or what is starting it. I must mention I was hardly ever sick, probably the opposite of a hypochondriac yet I take care of myself fairly well and eat fairly healthy.

National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week

Per FORCE's website, "In 2010, history was made with FORCE’s successful effort to pass a Congressional resolution declaring the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Week and National Previvor Day."

What Is BRCA1 and BRCA2?

Everyone has the BRCA 1 & 2 gene, however not everyone tests positive.  A positive BRCA gene increases the risk of certain cancers.

A mutation carrier (BRCA+) has an 87% chance of getting breast cancer vs. 8% for general population.

Chances of a BRCA+ getting Ovarian Cancer is 44% vs. <2% for general population.

Males WITH positive gene only have 8% chance of getting breast cancer and my father did.

Carriers of the BRCA1 gene mutation have a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those with BRCA2. But BRCA2 carriers have risks of different types of cancers, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma. For men with the BRCA2 mutation, there's a heightened risk of both prostate and breast cancers.

First Things First

I had a lot in my mind when finding out I was BRCA positive this year. I eventually started writing in "notes" on my phone app and have since grown more and more to accept it all. I've decided with some awesome BRCA "Sisters" references to share publicly for it makes a worlds difference when you hear the words, "me too". This first post is basically my phone copied onto this blog.