Family History of Ovarian, Breast Cancer

[TXGrama]

I'm just curious what the family history is of those with Ovarian (including primary peritoneal).  My mother died of either ovarian or primary peritoneal (papillary) at age 62.  She was Stage 3 when diagnosed.  She'd had her uterus, one ovary and part of the other removed in her 30's due a fibroid tumor wrapped around everything.  But they didn't think the piece of ovary left caused the cancer as there wasn't deep penetration of the tumor into the ovary.  I have all of her path reports, etc.  The ascites fluid showed undifferentiated cells [usually very malignant].  She lived 8 mos after diagnosis.  This was 28 years ago and therapy is much better now.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 47 (pre-menopausal) and though Stage 1, neg nodes - I was at high risk of recurrence so had 6 mos of chemo.  I've been blessed with 19 years of being cancer free.

Because of the history and having 2 daughters and many granddaughters, I had BRAC testing done.  The tests were negative for the mutation, but the geneticist said we had a lot of cancer and it might be gene mutation not recognized yet.  I am not of Ashkenazi of descent as far as I know.

Now, my aunt (who had breast cancer in her 70's) just died of what they think was ovarian cancer at age 86.  No autopsy but the doctor felt it was ovarian, fluid build up and there was a large tumor mass.

Prior to my Mom, aunt and myself there didn't seem to be any ovarian on Mom's side.  Maternal grandmother lived to 98.  And as far as I know great grandmother's sisters did not die of breast or ovarian.  Dad's side - Grandmother lived to 80's and died as result of stroke.  However, some of her sisters had breast cancer & uterine cancer.  I do genealogy, so I have a pretty complete family history.

I am just curious how many of you diagnosed with ovarian ca might have a neg BRAC, but have a family history.

I am being followed at MD Anderson's high risk clinic.  Thanks for any imput.

[TXGrama]

Thanks for your input.  Wow, you do have a lot family with breast & ovarian.

I just saw my gyn. here at MD Anderson, explaining the new diagnosis of ovarian in my Mom's sister and possibility of my daughter having breast cancer (still waiting on new mammo's tomorrow).  My results looked ok on vaginal US, etc.  CA-125 they'll mail results later.

I asked is there any other testing going on.  They mentioned that there is a new BRAC testing, so they drew my blood for it today. When I had the BRAC originally done, I had BCBS & Tricare and they paid for the tests.  Hopefully, the insurance (Medicare, BCBS Fed employee) will pay.  At least it's not as expensive as the original BRAC.

The test is BRAT for short.  This information was from an insurance company website, but found it was interesting to read:

https://www.oxhp.com/secure/policy/genetic_testing_809.html

This from the above website:

A family of molecular diagnostic tests called BRACAnalysis has been developed to test for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The newest test is called the BRACAnalysis Rearrangement Test (BART), which is purported to detect rare, large rearrangements of DNA in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes from a blood sample. It is intended for use only in women at an exceptionally high risk for breast cancer who have previously tested negative for sequence mutations and common large rearrangements on Myriad Genetics' 2002 version of the BRACAnalysis test. In the BART test, all coding exons of both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 and their respective links are examined for evidence of deletions and duplication.

There are plenty of us with family histories of both breast and ovarian.  Hopefully, some where down the road they'll begin to find other mutations.

Thanks again for the input.

[kismetfarm]

My grandmother had breast and ovarian, all her three sisters had breast cancer (and her three brothers all had prostate cancer), my mother had breast and ovarian, there were four women in this generation and one of her cousins died of breast cancer, her sister and another cousin are okay so far.  I'm the first of my generation and I have ovarian  (but I get mammograms regularly!).  We were BRCA tested and we have "a variation of unknown significance".   There is no doubt there are more genetic variations that are cancer causing than they know of yet.

What is interesting is that the generation before my grandmother all lived well into their 90s and had no sign of cancer.  Who knows where it came from

[TXGrama]

Thanks for the input.  Vigilance is the word.  I was being followed in Los Angeles (we lived about 90 miles away) in a research program at Cedars Sinai - Gilda Radnor program.  However, when we moved to Texas and now live in a more rural area, I decided I needed to find a place where I could get annual follow-up by specialists in the field and I wanted to get the BRAC testing.  So I went to MD Anderson.

I'm on my way to an appt tomorrow for my annual check-up.  I'm going to be asking what other research in going on in the area familial breast/ovarian cancer and if they're doing any other genetic research at MD Anderson.

Kathy - I got a kick out the nickname on your profile.  You've been through a lot.  You can self refer to MD Anderson - that's what I did.  I know they do a lot of research and asked for my blood in a research project.

Yesterday, I got a phone call from my youngest daughter and she is having to have a 2nd round of mammograms this Friday.  She's going to call me Friday while I'm in Houston.  Hopefully, all will be ok.  I told her to just take a day at a time.

Researchers are fortunate when we genealogists have a good family history to document the incidence of cancer in our families.  I hope at some point they can isolate the mutation that seems to running through our family.

Here's MD Anderson's Gyn-Onc website:

http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/care-centers-and-clinics/care-centers/gynecologic-oncology/index.html

Again, Thanks for the input.

Shirley

[survivor_susie]

Hi,
I can relate to the family history, etc.  I'm for 4th generation of women in my family to get breast cancer. Their background included middle European Jewish, but I tested negative for the BRCA gene.

When I was found to have ovarian and uterine cancer, the doctors asked if they could take my blood for future science. They haven't found the obvious gene my family carried, but knew that my cancers were genetic anyway. There was no incidence of ovarian cancer in my family, but the women preceding me all died from breast cancer, so we'll never know if they would have gone on to develop ovarian cancer or not...

I'd love to be on MD Anderson's watch list. Any info about it? Oh, and I'm also a genealogist. : )
Best of luck,
Kathy

[survivor_susie]

Hi,
I can relate to the family history, etc.  I'm for 4th generation of women in my family to get breast cancer. Their background included middle European Jewish, but I tested negative for the BRCA gene.

When I was found to have ovarian and uterine cancer, the doctors asked if they could take my blood for future science. They haven't found the obvious gene my family carried, but knew that my cancers were genetic anyway. There was no incidence of ovarian cancer in my family, but the women preceding me all died from breast cancer, so we'll never know if they would have gone on to develop ovarian cancer or not...

I'd love to be on MD Anderson's watch list. Any info about it? Oh, and I'm also a genealogist. : )
Best of luck,
Kathy

[nyc lady]

The truth is that there are other genes besides BRCA genes that they will probably find are connected with estrogen based cancers.  Right now, the BRCA test is better than nothing but far from good enough in predicting the future for any of us.

The important thing for you and the other family members to stay on top of visits to the GYN and be certain that the doctor is aware of your family background.  We all know that there is no early detection for OvCa, but, being vigilant and listening to  your body is a good start.

Best of luck.
Pam