On April Fool's Day, 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer....NO joke! Since my mother died from breast cancer in 1976, I have been faithful about getting my annual mammograms. I did not feel a lump, but the ultrasound that was performed looked a little suspicious. A biopsy confirmed the worst. An MRI showed only one small spot, but my husband and I decided that bilateral mastectomies would be my best shot at not repeating this scenerio in the future. Luckily, the three lymph nodes that were removed were "clean." My oncologist said that, since the tumor was completely removed and the nodes were fine, I would not benefit further from chemo or rediation. She did recommend genetic testing, which showed a mutation at one site on the BRCA2 gene. Well, at least, that confirmed that I had made the correct choice concerning the bilateral mastectomies. That would have been her first recommendation after finding the gene mutation. She did suggest that both of my sons be tested as men can carry the gene mutation, and it increases their odds of having both breast cancer and prostate cancer. My older son has been tested and is negative, which is great news for his two children. The oncologist, also, suggested that I have my ovaries removed as the BRCA2 mutation significantly increased my odds of developing ovarian cancer. Isn't that great?! Well, I am currently recovering from that surgery, which was performed just a week ago. I am waiting to hear from the pathologist on that one. The surgeon said that he would be surprised if there was a problem, but I heard those same words about my biopsy and my genetic testing. Time will tell........

Midge
Midlothian, VA