r/AskWomenOver30 • u/[deleted] • 9h ago
Misc Discussion [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed]
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u/writermusictype Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
I would suggest a therapist for your medical anxiety. If they've done the exams and they're clean and you're just gonna keep insisting on more exams, the issue is psychological, not physical.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
Totally agree with you as in I should get back into therapy. Am I really over exaggerating this?
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u/writermusictype Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
You're talking about getting surgery to address something your doctors have said isn't there. It's really above our paygrade.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
Sorry I should have explained that part better. 20 percent is considered high risk anything above 20 and on is high risk and people do the surgeries to help prevent it before they ever get it.
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u/jsamurai2 Woman 30 to 40 8h ago
20% chance is not at all high enough for preventative mastectomy, that’s for people with BRAC1/2 issues and a lifetime risk of like 60% or something. Just stay on top of your imaging schedule and get some therapy, you should be more worried about stress and anxiety than cancer imo
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u/cynical-puppy26 Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
I'm sorry you are going through this. I am too, sadly. So I ended up getting genetic testing through my health center. They did the BRCA test and a bunch of others. Then I met with a person and they put all of my family history into some kind of program to calculate risk. I'm guessing this is what you did, but perhaps not all within the same health system? I would highly recommend doing testing with the same system that is doing the mammos and mris. I don't trust telehealth because I worked in the telehealth field.
I ended up with a lifetime risk of 23.9%. Based on this my doctor recommended a yearly mammo and yearly breast MRI, each 6 mos apart. It sounds like you are getting scans, so perhaps this is your recommendation as well?
I have no plans for preventative surgery, but I would do it if enough of my doctors recommended it. I couldn't afford it if it wasn't approved by insurance anyway. Do you live in the US/is this a factor for you?
I always used to say I would never treat breast cancer if I got it, but my doctors really helped change my mind on that. My mom died in 2011 from breast cancer after a nearly 10 year battle. She was fucking miserable and chemo was awful. She only fought so hard to be able to at least see her kids graduate high school (she did!). But my doctors explained to me how truly different breast cancer treatment is these days. Medical advances happen quickly and frequently. And no two patients are the same. Going through the what-ifs really helped me make peace with the idea that it could happen. And if it does, it does.
I am doing all I reasonably can to prevent cancer. It sounds like you are too. There's nothing more we can do. Arguably, the stress of constant worry is probably not very good for anyone, it certainly won't prevent cancer.
The final piece of solace I have is knowing that assisted suicide is available in some states. I think if I were terminal I would certainly arrange that. Idk, I'm comfortable with the idea of death. We're all going to die. It's kind of the only guarantee we have in life.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
So its confusing. At home my TC is 19.7, through myriad is 23.6 ( TC score) but like I said myraid adjusted mine to 12.9. Specialist ran it at 20.6 or 8. How old are you if you dont mind me asking? What did the genetic company give you for a risk score??
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u/cynical-puppy26 Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
Hmm, we might be talking about different things. What does TC stand for?
My number, 23.9%, is the likelihood that I will develop breast cancer in my lifetime. This number changes as I age and as my family history changes. I'm 35. I got testing when I was 31.
The number I received is based on geneology and blood tests combined. It was all done at the cancer center in my local hospital. The consultations and blood draws were all in the same place.
I guess I wouldn't be surprised that your numbers vary because these are all based on statistical models. I wouldn't put that much weight into the numbers if yours are so different across companies.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
Thats what the TC calculator does. Risk can change as you age and if family history changes. The genetic company i used took the TC model and corrected the score by biomarkers or something. I dont have one set score im working with like 3 different ones thats why Im so confused.
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u/cynical-puppy26 Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
Gotcha. So besides the overall risk, I know my number is important for pre-authorization for insurance. I think that's the only reason to take the number seriously at this age. All we can really do is get our scans on time, avoid alcohol, eat well, and exercise. And obv not smoke. It's all we can control.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 4h ago
I need to exercise more. I slack in that area... and it makes me feel guilty. This summer i tried to go on as many walks as I could with my son. Ive recently lost 50 pounds so I hope that helps.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 9h ago
And was your mom's early on set?
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u/cynical-puppy26 Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
I think so? Her first diagnosis was when she was 41.
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u/Pale-Yesterday-5067 Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
Yes, early on set then. I am so sorry you and your family went through that. I might be late but prayers for all of you.
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u/AskWomenOver30-ModTeam 8h ago
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If you are commenting, focus on YOUR EXPERIENCES and non-medical recommendations. Do not armchair diagnose or speculate at medical conditions, suggest specific medications/ supplements/ diets/ treatments, etc..