Ridiculous. I’m “at risk” for a heart attack or stroke. (family history) I think I’ll have a cardiectomy and a cerebrectomy .... just as a smart preventative measure.
Being at risk for something based on your family history that you cannot surgically fix at the moment is very different from having the BrCa genes. The odds are as high as 80-90% that a person with one of the BrCa genes will get breast cancer. Breast cancer is difficult to detect in a young woman, so an annual screening mammogram may not catch it in time. I haven’t been tested for the gene but my mother, grandmother, great aunt, 4 of my mother’s first cousins and 1 of her cousin’s daughters has had breast cancer. My doctor recommended I explore genetic testing and consider preventative double mastectomy. I haven’t done it for two reasons. If I test positive, I will likely never be able to get individual medical insurance again. Also, everyone in my family has survived breast cancer. I live everyday with the knowledge I am probably a ticking time bomb and my procrastination could turn out to be fatal.