As you know when my sister was first diagnosed one of her doctors wanted her to have genetic testing done. The results positive or negative were not going to change the course of treatment with the exception of surgery.
Her BRCA2 came back positive, we are still waiting for the BRCA1 to become available, to say I have done “a little” reading is an understatement, and to say that I understood all that I read is just plain insane.
Let me see if I can explain BRCA genes.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes produce tumor suppressor proteins, their function is to repair damaged DNA and prevent cells from growing and dividing too rapidly in breast tissue, this ensures the cells genetic material. When DNA is damaged cells are more likely to develop genetic alterations that can lead to cancer. Specific inherited mutations increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are inherited from either your mother or father, offspring of a parent with a positive mutation have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation.
BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) or BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2)
This is BRCA1 and BRCA2 in a nutshell, there is so much too read and process, information we never wanted to know or deal with, but here we are reading, researching and processing all this information.
Even with all the doctors visits, lab draws, chemo sessions, hair loss, fatigue, nausea, bone pain, my sister amazes me. I know she is tired and has her emotional moments, but she always wipes away the tears and is ready for the next leg of the journey.
