Genetic Testing - advice please

Hi everyone,

im just looking for a little bit of advice I’ve just been referred to a genetic testing as I’ve found out recently my mum died of overian cancer, her mum died of bowel cancer and then my great grandma also died of cancer(unsure which) and her sister also has myeloma.

 

Has anybody experienced anything similar? I’m just a little nervous, theyve asked me to fill in some family history however I don’t have much and unable to find out, I don’t want this to lessen my chances of being checked because I’m unable to check my family history?

 

Has anybody’s family tree been similar? Should I be worried? 

  • Hi there

    Who referred you for genetic testing?

    It is okay not to have a complete picture of family history. They are trying to figure out what genes to look at (we have around 24000 genes but understand the significance of only around 11000). So if you have a history of ovarian and bowel cancer in the family, those are the gene packages they will focus on.

     

    Best, 

  • Hi,

    my GP referred me to them, I think more so because it’s my mum who had overian cancer and her mum who had bowel cancer. 

     

    Thank you

  • Hi 

    I have a bit of experience of this along with one of my half sister. 

    My mum died of lung cancer but recently found out that she had cervical cancer in her forties. I have a half sister who I've never met who died of breast cancer.

    My other half sister who I know well is currently being treated for breast. So far I've had a few severe scares but OK thankfully.

    My sister has pushed for gene testing for years. I'm not interested - rather not know

    We're both adopted - which was the point I'm making in a long winded way - therefore most info is heresay and a lot of blanks. However her hospital are happy to carry out gene testing so my advice is go with as much information as possible and see what they say.

    Hope it works out for you x