Hi all,

I'm 24 and found out I'm positive for BRCA1 just before lockdown. I was referred for genetic testing due to my paternal grandmother's death of breast cancer aged 23, and her sister's death of ovarian cancer in her 50's. My dad of course also tested positive. I feel very grateful that I have the opportunity for preventative action but right now I am struggling with huge amounts of health anxiety. When I first recieved the news I was told by my genetic counsellor that although my grandmother died in her early 20's, it would be highly unlikely that this would be the same for me, even with the BRCA1 gene, and that I most likely would not have to think about preventative surgery until I hit my 30's. However, I spoke to a breast specialist and she advised that this may not be the case and familal age of onset can be a risk factor. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to manage my anxiety. I know I want the surgery as soon as possible, but I can't shake the feeling that my breasts are a ticking time bomb. Reading the literature it is also clear that breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and detected later on average in young women, as often their can be zero obvious symptoms. I know this is largely illogical, and I'm trying to approach this objectively, but my anxiety is starting to affect my ability to function properly. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this? I'm currently waiting to hear back from the breast team about the possibility of getting early MRI screening (they usually only offer it from 30 y/o) but I feel like I'm stuck in limbo.