Family, genetic testing
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Family, genetic testing

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Family, genetic testing

  • Post
    • March 7, 2013 at 3:45 pm
    chalknpens
    Participant

    I am so very sad about my two nieces. My godchild has aggressive breast cancer, and her sister has melanoma and now lymphoma. They both carry the BRCA2 gene, as does my sister, though she does not have cancer. 

    I was scheduled to have the genetic testing done this week, but the hospital had to reschedule me due to staff illness, so i'll go in two weeks. I have melanoma, with two primary sites, both stage 1 and removed surgically. I'm worried that if I, too, carry the gene, my own children may be affected as well.

    I am so very sad about my two nieces. My godchild has aggressive breast cancer, and her sister has melanoma and now lymphoma. They both carry the BRCA2 gene, as does my sister, though she does not have cancer. 

    I was scheduled to have the genetic testing done this week, but the hospital had to reschedule me due to staff illness, so i'll go in two weeks. I have melanoma, with two primary sites, both stage 1 and removed surgically. I'm worried that if I, too, carry the gene, my own children may be affected as well.

    I guess I'm just here to share that worry.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • March 8, 2013 at 2:39 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      I am sure it is a concern we all have thought about… that perhaps we have passed along a gene to our children that predisposes them to cancer of one form or another. I remember when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 y/o and my surgeon asked if we had any daughters. Yes! Four! I will never forget how his face fell, and he explained that their risk would begin 10 yrs prior to mine. So, in their late 20's they would already be at an increased risk. My melanoma diagnosis came weeks after that, and again, thinking abt how this could affect the kids.BUT… having the gene does not mean they will get the disease, it is a predisposition – and that is also a maybe. In my mind, if I would have known my risk ahead of time, I would have been more diligent in prescreening and such. So, for our children, the knowledge can just serve as a moivation to be sure to get those physicals and those dermatology appointments that we tend to ignore when we feel well and when we are younger. Catching things early can make such a difference for them. So many things we think about here as we walk this road. 

      Tina

      • March 8, 2013 at 2:39 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      I am sure it is a concern we all have thought about… that perhaps we have passed along a gene to our children that predisposes them to cancer of one form or another. I remember when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 y/o and my surgeon asked if we had any daughters. Yes! Four! I will never forget how his face fell, and he explained that their risk would begin 10 yrs prior to mine. So, in their late 20's they would already be at an increased risk. My melanoma diagnosis came weeks after that, and again, thinking abt how this could affect the kids.BUT… having the gene does not mean they will get the disease, it is a predisposition – and that is also a maybe. In my mind, if I would have known my risk ahead of time, I would have been more diligent in prescreening and such. So, for our children, the knowledge can just serve as a moivation to be sure to get those physicals and those dermatology appointments that we tend to ignore when we feel well and when we are younger. Catching things early can make such a difference for them. So many things we think about here as we walk this road. 

      Tina

        • March 8, 2013 at 6:32 pm
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Thanks, Tina, for your response and encouraging advice. I will pass it along.

        • March 8, 2013 at 6:32 pm
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Thanks, Tina, for your response and encouraging advice. I will pass it along.

        • March 8, 2013 at 6:32 pm
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Thanks, Tina, for your response and encouraging advice. I will pass it along.

      • March 8, 2013 at 2:39 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      I am sure it is a concern we all have thought about… that perhaps we have passed along a gene to our children that predisposes them to cancer of one form or another. I remember when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 y/o and my surgeon asked if we had any daughters. Yes! Four! I will never forget how his face fell, and he explained that their risk would begin 10 yrs prior to mine. So, in their late 20's they would already be at an increased risk. My melanoma diagnosis came weeks after that, and again, thinking abt how this could affect the kids.BUT… having the gene does not mean they will get the disease, it is a predisposition – and that is also a maybe. In my mind, if I would have known my risk ahead of time, I would have been more diligent in prescreening and such. So, for our children, the knowledge can just serve as a moivation to be sure to get those physicals and those dermatology appointments that we tend to ignore when we feel well and when we are younger. Catching things early can make such a difference for them. So many things we think about here as we walk this road. 

      Tina

      • March 9, 2013 at 2:17 am
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi, Just wanted to let you know that Vitamin D-3 (high range) would help with your multiple sclerosis.

      Also that breast cancer patients could benefit enormous with having high levels of vitamin D-3.

      All cancer patients should be tested and they should be in the 80 to 100 level to help win the battle.

      Best wishes,

      Gene

      • March 9, 2013 at 2:17 am
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi, Just wanted to let you know that Vitamin D-3 (high range) would help with your multiple sclerosis.

      Also that breast cancer patients could benefit enormous with having high levels of vitamin D-3.

      All cancer patients should be tested and they should be in the 80 to 100 level to help win the battle.

      Best wishes,

      Gene

      • March 9, 2013 at 2:17 am
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi, Just wanted to let you know that Vitamin D-3 (high range) would help with your multiple sclerosis.

      Also that breast cancer patients could benefit enormous with having high levels of vitamin D-3.

      All cancer patients should be tested and they should be in the 80 to 100 level to help win the battle.

      Best wishes,

      Gene

        • April 2, 2013 at 2:33 am
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Hi Gene,

        Thank you for your response. I do take a high dose (50000) of vitamin D3 once a week, and also take calcium chews that contain D2 in moderate amounts, ideally daily but I'm not as consistent with that. Nonetheless, my D level rose from in the teens to 90 in six months time.  It is very important for MS patients, and also for many other conditions.

        • April 2, 2013 at 2:33 am
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Hi Gene,

        Thank you for your response. I do take a high dose (50000) of vitamin D3 once a week, and also take calcium chews that contain D2 in moderate amounts, ideally daily but I'm not as consistent with that. Nonetheless, my D level rose from in the teens to 90 in six months time.  It is very important for MS patients, and also for many other conditions.

        • April 2, 2013 at 2:33 am
        chalknpens
        Participant

        Hi Gene,

        Thank you for your response. I do take a high dose (50000) of vitamin D3 once a week, and also take calcium chews that contain D2 in moderate amounts, ideally daily but I'm not as consistent with that. Nonetheless, my D level rose from in the teens to 90 in six months time.  It is very important for MS patients, and also for many other conditions.

      • March 9, 2013 at 1:38 pm
      JC
      Participant

      80-100?  I take couple thousand units per day but can still only get my level in the low 30s

      • March 9, 2013 at 1:38 pm
      JC
      Participant

      80-100?  I take couple thousand units per day but can still only get my level in the low 30s

      • March 9, 2013 at 1:38 pm
      JC
      Participant

      80-100?  I take couple thousand units per day but can still only get my level in the low 30s

        • March 10, 2013 at 7:38 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Try increasing it, 35 x your weight. Example 200lbs. should take 7000 iu daily.

        Keep increasing it and be tested until you attain your ideal levels.

        Note milk and dairy are very hard for healing cancer and should be avoided.

        • March 10, 2013 at 7:38 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Try increasing it, 35 x your weight. Example 200lbs. should take 7000 iu daily.

        Keep increasing it and be tested until you attain your ideal levels.

        Note milk and dairy are very hard for healing cancer and should be avoided.

        • March 10, 2013 at 7:38 pm
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Try increasing it, 35 x your weight. Example 200lbs. should take 7000 iu daily.

        Keep increasing it and be tested until you attain your ideal levels.

        Note milk and dairy are very hard for healing cancer and should be avoided.

      • March 11, 2013 at 12:47 pm
      JC
      Participant
      • March 11, 2013 at 12:47 pm
      JC
      Participant
        • March 13, 2013 at 12:16 am
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Thank YOU for the link!  More info can be found @

        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21371954

        "the data support the view that serum levels in the range 70-100 nmol/L might be a reasonable target for melanoma patients as much as for other members of the population". 

        This is why testing is necessary.

        Best wishes,

        Gene

        • March 13, 2013 at 12:16 am
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Thank YOU for the link!  More info can be found @

        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21371954

        "the data support the view that serum levels in the range 70-100 nmol/L might be a reasonable target for melanoma patients as much as for other members of the population". 

        This is why testing is necessary.

        Best wishes,

        Gene

        • March 13, 2013 at 12:16 am
        Gene_S
        Participant

        Thank YOU for the link!  More info can be found @

        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21371954

        "the data support the view that serum levels in the range 70-100 nmol/L might be a reasonable target for melanoma patients as much as for other members of the population". 

        This is why testing is necessary.

        Best wishes,

        Gene

      • March 11, 2013 at 12:47 pm
      JC
      Participant
Viewing 11 reply threads
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