Genetic Testing Results

This afternoon I received a call from Baylor Medical. It was Becky, my genetic testing counselor. They got my test results back, and I DO carry the BRCA2 gene mutation at the 15th letter. (DNA can be expressed in rows of letters, and my 15th one is out of whack, to put it in technical terms.)

I will see my oncologist this coming Tuesday, but Becky prepared me for Dr. O'Shaughnessy to make a strong push for the double masectomy and removal of the ovaries. Mark and I have done a lot of thinking about this, and it is not too troubling at this point. If anything, it feels safe. A little painful, maybe, but safe.

To share some numbers, Becky said that my test results indicate a 64% chance of a new breast cancer developing after this current one is healed. Chance of ovarian cancer is established to be at 27%. With the surgery...much lower.

I will be asking more questions and hearing more information on Tuesday. I know I will have more to say about this. But, for now, I think Mark and I are just grateful for the science and expertise God has granted...and I was very blessed by Becky's sweet and caring spirit. Just wanted to let you know.