Brca testing

[Shweta11]

I got diagnosed with breast cancer this September and have gotten through my third chemo.I got testing done for BRCA 1&2 and my report says 'no pathogens found'. My doctor told its negative but I would like to know if anyone on this forum had these tests, if so what was the exact results.

[Sango]

Hi Shweta,

Good to know you're going strong after 3rd chemo . Im too and tomorrow is my 6th

As per the BRCA tests i got mine and it was tested negative too.

My report read as - Variants detected with minimum 500 read depth and 5% frequency. Variation - None Clinical significance - None.

The doctors in the forum will be able to better guide you although its very lear its negative as no pathogens were found.

[Shweta11 in reply to Sango]

Hi Sango,

My reports said nothing about the read depth or frequency. Guess they don't have a standard template :).

I try not to worry about these reports, as I have not seen breast/ovarian cancer cases on both my parent's side.

Hope you are doing well.

Rajani

[kaarenorgaard]

The BRCA tests are either negative or positive (I haven't had one, I am a guy, but I know what it is).

BRCA tests (1 and 2) test whether you in your body's DNA have either the BRCA1 mutation (a gene on chromosome 17) or a mutation of BRCA2 (a gene on chromosome 13), because if you had one of these mutations, you were more likely to develop breast cancer and ovarian cancer than the rest of humans.

Also, if you had any one these mutations, if you then do get breast cancer, that cancer would have had an increased risk of being aggressive than otherwise. That is why it is relevant to test after a cancer is found, because it can influence how you treat it.

This is hereditary - like hair and eye color and appearance etc - and it will not change during your lifetime. The BRCA tests are not on the tumor (like other genomic tests may be), they are on you as a person, so the outcome will never change.

But you don't have any of these mutations - once and for all you don't have to worry about BRCA.

Is there anything else we can clarify regarding your treatment, then do provide details of your situation.

Best wishes

Kaare (from Denmark)

[Shweta11 in reply to kaarenorgaard]

Hi Kaare,

Thanks for your reply.

Rajani

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

I am not too sure a BRCA report will mention 'No pathogens found'. Probably it may be 'No pathogenic mutation found' or something like that. The important word here is 'mutation'. BRCA testing is an EXTREMELY SENSITIVE topic and if not interpreted correctly, can cause unnecessary confusion and anxiety and may not serve its purpose at all. It is essential that you talk in detail with your Genetic Counsellor and understand your report in detail. Even if it is negative, occasionally non specific mutations are found, which, in future, may become significant.

Just to tell you the importance of this, my colleague genetic counsellor spends almost ONE hour with each of my patients undergoing this testing, talking in detail about the report before testing and after that. Not that she enjoys giving so much time behind just one patient, but it is very much needed. And there has to be a very good co ordination between the counsellor and the entire Oncology team of patient, especially the Surgical Oncologist, who is going to take care of different screenings, if needed, for the patient.

So I suggest you must discuss in detail with your Genetic Counsellor.

[Shweta11 in reply to sumeet_shah]

Hi Sumeet,

The result says, 'no pathogenic variant' and 'A diagnosis of familial breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), cannot be genetically confirmed'. Genetic counselling recommended. My medical oncologist told it's negative and not to worry. My blood sample was sent to a company is Germany, from which I got these reports. Do I need to get additional tests done for genetic counselling.

Thanks,

Rajani

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to Shweta11]

No tests. Just meet a genetic counsellor and let him / her decide if any more tests needed. Ask your Oncologist to guide you to one. All Oncologists know genetic counsellors.

[Shweta11 in reply to sumeet_shah]

Will do. Thanks for your reply.