International Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
The good, the bad and the ugly...
The good: Little Sheks got lots of stuff this weekend at my baby shower. He's a blessed little guy and I was overwhelmed by my family's generosity. It was a blast and my friends and family hadn't seen me pregnant, so that was double the fun.
The bad: My aunt is having a double mastectomy next week and then we will find out the stage of the cancer. Her doctor recommended my mom and my other aunt get tested for the BRCA1 gene since my grandfather had prostate cancer and my grandmother, my grandmother's sister and now my aunt had breast cancer. Requesting continuted T&Ps for the fam.
The ugly: Big fat failed my 1 hour glucose test
. The fun 3 hour test is scheduled for Wednesday. Blah.
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly...
Glad you had an awesome baby shower.
Can I ask why you would get the testing? Knowing that you do or don't have the gene doesn't mean that you will or won't get breast or ovarian cancer. Personally, I don't know if I would get the test because it would drive me nuts knowing that I was more genetically predisposed to breast cancer. With vigilant self tests and screening (mamograms starting earlier and yearly Paps), what's the point? Unless you'd opt for a prophalyctic mastectomy?
GL on the 3 hour test!
blue: The glucose tolerance test tests for gestational diabetes. I failed the one hour test and have to do a three hour test to see if I have gestational diabetes now. Lots of women fail the one hour and pass the three hour though, so I'm hoping this will be my case!
MCC: Lifetime risk for breast cancer for the general population is about 12-15% while the risk is about 60% for those with the inherited mutated BRCA1 or 2 gene. My mom has already decided if she tests positive then she will get a preventitive double mastectomy (without reconstruction). If my mom tests positive, I will have some decisions to make. I'm not sure about my feelings regarding the test or the preventative mastectomy.
As you mentioned, with great awareness towards monthly breast exams and annual mammograms for me I think I would feel comfortable taking more time to make my decision about what I would like to do with the information. DH and I would have to have some majour discussions about our future plans, fututre children, recovery time, etc.
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Glad you're thinking it though. I hope you don't mind that I asked. Obviously it's a personal decision. I know a lot of doctors push for the test though and if someone is dead set against a double mastectomy, then it might not be worth testing just to drive yourself crazy wondering if/when cancer will hit.
((hugs))
Of course I don't mind. Silly MCC! I actually would like to know what other ladies would do if they don't mind sharing. I agree, if you already know your decision regarding the outcome of the genetic testing, then why drive yourself nuts over it? I don't know if that would be peace of mind for me...but honestly, at this point, don't know what I think about any of it yet.
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If I was you mom's age and over 50 years old and have more than one family member diagnosed I would definitely have the test to see if I have the genetic gene. And if I tested positive I would have a mastectomy.
At the age I am now I would consider getting tested now or at least in the next 10 years if I had the same family history as you. I would not be as drastic and immediately have mastectomy but I think it would be good to know that I have a higher risk because I have the gene.
I guess either way you know your at a greater risk but I would want to be tested so I could have a greater picture of what my extra medical expenses might be.
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T&P's for your family Shekels. *hugs*
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog:
I don't know if I would get tested UNLESS I needed to for insurance purposes. If you have the BRCA1/2 gene, it might give you better coverage for screening for certain insurances (i.e. mamograms from NOW on instead of from 35/40 on). Also perhaps it would give you twice yearly Pap tests instead of annual tests to check for abnormal cells, etc.
I would only opt for a mastectomy after I had my kids though. Some women get an oopharectomy (spelling?) to prevent ovarian cancer. Not sure I would do that unless I was older though because I wouldn't want to be on hormone replacements for so long--my mom had a hysterectomy when she was 29 so I have some knowledge on this.
Insurance purposes would be another reason why I would be tested earlier too. I thought about this in my first response but forgot to mention it. They have more reason to cover you for preventive testing if you can show that your positive for the gene.
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog:
Ditto on the insurance stuff. Ever since my polyp was found, my insurance has covered extra testing (like a pelvic ultrasound) just because I may be more predisposed to other types of cancer. They wouldn't have done this otherwise. Same with mammograms.
I realized that made it sound like I tested positive for cancer, which I didn't. I just had a massive polyp growing in my colon with no family history of this. It was the type of polyp with a 40% chance of turning cancerous, and at the size it was, I had 3 different doctors tell me that it would almost certainly have turned into cancer in a few more years (they estimated that I'd had it for about 5-7 years).
I'm obviously not going to remove my colon, but now I can justify a yearly colonoscopy and extra uterine and breast screening. Not that any of these things are fun, but at least I know that if there is something to find, I will probably find it early.
YAY for baby showers!!
sorry to hear about your aunt
I think if I was in your situation and my Mom tested positive I probably would get the test and then decide on how to move forward. At least if I knew I was more predisposed to it then I could get checkups more often.
GL with the 3 hour test - Hopefully you will pass
I'm so sorry about your aunt Sheks. I'll be thinking about your family.
But, hooray for baby showers! I'm glad it went well and that you felt loved.
I'm glad you had such a nice shower!
My mother died of breast cancer when I was 14 and 2 of my aunts have suffered with it so I personally would get tested. I have thought about doing it after we have children because depending on what happens I would seriously consider a double mastectomy. My T&P are with your family during this difficult time.
I'm sorry about the glucose test. I am so not looking forward to that one. The doc can take as much blood as they want, but don't make me drink something! I hate drinking things, I hope I can get it down. LOL. My mom also had GD with both me and my sister, so of course I will get tested. Good luck with your 3 hour. Keep us updated!
Thoughts for your aunt. Hope it was caught early...
I just read that Giuliana Rancic has breast cancer. Cancer is evil. I've known way too many people who have had it..
I failed the 1 hour glucose too. The 3 hour one is a pain in the azz and drinking that liquid is sickening. You should take a book or something to keep you occupied during the waiting time. That was the worst part for me.
Yay for your baby shower and seeing your friends and family!
I'm so sorry about your aunt. T & Ps.
Good luck on the glucose test!
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks