Would you do the genetic testing?

It depends. Do you want children? Does it concern you that if you are at higher risk you can develop ovarian cancer and possibly not know until it might be too late? These are genuine questions and I am in no way being sarcastic or antagonizing.

I think the most important question is this: Is your life worth more than $3,120 dollars? Or does the value of your life match the price? Only you can answer.

As for the second part of your question… I’m kind of 50/50 on the subject. I have not entirely been able to make up my mind.

Edit: I’d also like to add that I do understand about money being a concern. I have a lot of medical debt that I’ve been struggling to pay off for quite a while. But there are ways to make paying a little easier. If you don’t have insurance, there are a lot of places that will reduce the price of the test dramatically, you just have to call and ask and they’ll be more than happy to provide the information you need before making your decision. You can also manage to get by with making monthly payments – of whatever price you choose, pretty much, probably. I know that in Oregon, once you mail a check or make a payment in any kind of way for medical bills, if the establishment accepts the very first payment, they can not ever increase the amount above the first payment. If all you can do is five dollars, send it in monthly. They probably will accept it.

I’ve already had all the kids that I’m going to have, so that is not a concern. I do have insurance, the doctor is sending my insurance company a letter explaining why he is recommending testing and asking for the amount they will cover. I know we can manage whatever is not covered. Part of the larger picture is what I would do with that information.

I think I’d want to know what you could do with the information. If the test is positive, would getting a hysterectomy solve the problem? Is there some less dramatic procedure you could do that would? Most importantly, would you do either? If you couldn’t or wouldn’t take action, there is no sense in knowing that you have the mutation. Assuming a hysterectomy would solve the problem, why not go ahead and get it now? I don’t think it would cost much more than the test, and you’d never have to worry about this issue again, or getting pregnant, having a period, etc…which I count as a blessing in disguise!

@augustlan, that’s interesting, I haven’t thought of just getting rid of the plumbing now. Something to consider. I suppose the testing would be beneficial information for my daughter and sisters.

Good point. I just realized I never answered the second part of your Q. My feelings about genetic testing all relate to what I was saying up there ^^. If there is something you can and would do to change the possible outcome, I’m all for it. If not, I’m pretty sure I’d rather not know. For instance, when I was pregnant (the 2nd, 3rd and 4th times) I didn’t get the alpha fetal protein (?) test because I knew I’d have the baby no matter the outcome. I figured that would save me months of worrying about something I wouldn’t change anyway.

Your risk is 12%?? Do you have an immediate family member or maternal grandmother that suffered ovarian cancer? If not, I would say pass. Even if you discover you do have the gene, what would you do differently? Get paps 4x a year, just in case? I bet I have a 12% risk for a LOT of things, but unless an immediate relative suffered from it, or it would have a horrible developmental effect on my children, I would pass. $3,120.00 buys a lot of organic groceries.

I am sitting in the same boat as Gimme, except that at this point I have outlived our mother by six years, so of course the answers to this question interested me too.

Augustlan, I lean toward your suggestion as I’m not really sure what I would do with the information if I did know. I am also concerned about what might happen insurance wise if I test positive for the gene. If the insurance company knows I have the genetic mutation will that make anything to do with my reproductive system a “pre-existing condition” and cause them not to cover it? I just don’t know. I was talking to a friend about this, they asked if I think I have the mutation. When I answered no they said, “so get the test and confirm it.” I have discussed a prophylactic oophorectomy with my doctor and have not ruled that out.

@nocountry, Gimme and I are sisters and our mother died of ovarian cancer, neither our mother’s mother or sister had any kind of gynecologic cancer.

@gimmie and SM – I am very sorry for your loss. My mother died of breast cancer, so I am sure I have an increased risk for cancer, and don’t feel the need to do a generic test. I don’t need any proof for insurance companies to make my life any more difficult, and it isn’t something that would have a negative deveopmental effect on my future children. Aside from taking very good care of my health and being vigilant about by check-ups, I guess I don’t really see any point in worrying about it.

My mother has had breast cancer twice. No other female in her family has had ovarian or breast cancer. I am 32 and in a higher risk category due to my mother having been diagnosed twice and also for a first diagnosis at age 36. I began having high risk screening mammograms at age 30. My first biopsy was late last year. I went ahead and had the genetic testing since my mother wouldn’t. The gene can be passed and I am the mother of a young daughter. It was explained to me that if you test positive for a mutation it is a question of when you will get breast or ovarian cancer. It was expensive but the piece of mind was worth it.