It was a normal Wednesday, 2:30pm, the phone is ringing: "Hi Melanie, this is Jake from the genetics, are you in a comfortable ambiance so we can talk?"
Yes of course, i was at home - the moment he said that i knew the news were not good. But to be honest - i expected that i am BRCA 1+, of course i was hoping for a negative. My mother is BRCA 1+, obviously my aunt was too - otherwise she would have not get cancer that early. My grandma died at age 42, my other grandma at an early age too - all from cancer. I knew the chance to be a carrier of the gene is 50/50... but i expected the bad 50!
It did not really knock me down - of course i'm more worried about everything than before. But i feel relieved to have the results - i am a carrier and finally i get people to listen to me, and get the preventive care i need!!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The decision of getting tested
We moved to the USA from Germany in January 2008. Back in Germany i had a really good OBGyn, very familiar with our strong family history of cancer, she also was my moms OBGyn. I got special care, was able to go for a visit every 6 months, got vaginal ultrasound every 6 months, clinical breast exam every 6 months, once a year an ultrasound from the breasts, Pap test every 6 months, Mammogram every 2 years. B efore i left to the State she wanted to do a MRI of my breasts but i could not get an appointment before i left Germany. So i decided i will just go to the OBGyn over here and will try to get one.
I made an appointment at the women health department and was expecting nearly the same care as i knew it from Germany. I got a NP - she seemed nice, i got my pap test, clinical breast exam and a "Good bye, take care"! Well, that was not what expected - after i had to fill out the form with the family history before i got taken to the room. So i was asking her about vaginal ultrasound, ultrasound and mammogram from the breasts and all those test i always had in Germany. The answer she gave me: "What do you think, you are 27 years old - you are way to young to get cancer!" I broke out in tears and left.
My Aunt died 1989 at the age of 29 after her doctor told her the same thing and diagnosed a breast tumor as a plugged up mammary gland.
In 2009 i got pregnant - i went in to get my flu shot and a Nurse referred me to a doctor because she thought we match pretty good.. Funny story....
So after i was pregnant i went to my postpartum appointment. 6 months later i made an appointment again, 6 months later another appointment.. At the second appointment she asked me: "What are you doing here again? You were just here 6 months ago! Your not due for the next 2 years!" I told her about my history - finally i found someone who listened. At the same appointment she referred me to the Genetics and to the Radiology for a vaginal ultrasound.
When i went to get my ultrasound i thought, well i'm already here, so i get my mammogram too. I checked in for the ultrasound and asked for a mammogram too. The answer i was getting: "You want a mammogram? Well, we only give mammograms to women over 40. You are way to young for breast cancer"
Here we are again....Broke down in tears because i didn't get what i was asking for, remembered the story of my aunt who easily could have fought the cancer if the doctor would have diagnosed her right. At that day i decided to do the genetic testing to finally get my preventive care i need.
I made an appointment at the women health department and was expecting nearly the same care as i knew it from Germany. I got a NP - she seemed nice, i got my pap test, clinical breast exam and a "Good bye, take care"! Well, that was not what expected - after i had to fill out the form with the family history before i got taken to the room. So i was asking her about vaginal ultrasound, ultrasound and mammogram from the breasts and all those test i always had in Germany. The answer she gave me: "What do you think, you are 27 years old - you are way to young to get cancer!" I broke out in tears and left.
My Aunt died 1989 at the age of 29 after her doctor told her the same thing and diagnosed a breast tumor as a plugged up mammary gland.
In 2009 i got pregnant - i went in to get my flu shot and a Nurse referred me to a doctor because she thought we match pretty good.. Funny story....
So after i was pregnant i went to my postpartum appointment. 6 months later i made an appointment again, 6 months later another appointment.. At the second appointment she asked me: "What are you doing here again? You were just here 6 months ago! Your not due for the next 2 years!" I told her about my history - finally i found someone who listened. At the same appointment she referred me to the Genetics and to the Radiology for a vaginal ultrasound.
When i went to get my ultrasound i thought, well i'm already here, so i get my mammogram too. I checked in for the ultrasound and asked for a mammogram too. The answer i was getting: "You want a mammogram? Well, we only give mammograms to women over 40. You are way to young for breast cancer"
Here we are again....Broke down in tears because i didn't get what i was asking for, remembered the story of my aunt who easily could have fought the cancer if the doctor would have diagnosed her right. At that day i decided to do the genetic testing to finally get my preventive care i need.
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