Genetics are a CRAP shoot!
My story is a long one. Here it is in shortened version:
1. Grandfather died from liver cancer in his 40's.
2. Grandmother's sister died from uterine cancer.
3. Mother dx with early stage IDC at age 28 while pregnant with my brother.
Had baby, went through mastectomy and chemo.
4. Mother dx in other breast with different IDC at age 30, lymph nodes involved. More chemo, another surgery, and radiation.
5. Mother dx with mets at age 33, more chemo, died 4 months later.
6. Grandmother dx with BC, had a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and no recurrance.
7. Brother dx with rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue cancer) at age 5.
8. Brother dx with metastatic rhabdo at age 11, died at age 12.
9. Me at age 28, dx with early stage IDC of 2cm, ER/PR-, HER2+++, 0 lymph nodes, 4 rounds dose-dense 2 week A/C, with Taxotere six months later. (Onc finally gave in) I thought I was close enough to stage 1, that I never thought I would be dealing with this again. I had ER+ DCIS in my other breast too.
10. Daughter dx with adrenal cancer at age 5. Surgery alone was recommended by St. Judes. Kidney removed too.
11. I had my ovaries removed. Oomphrectomy. They thought I had a significant cancer risk in my ovaries enough to recommend having this done.
12. Genetic testing done on children. All 3 children have bad gene.
13. Sept of 2005, daughter dx again with adrenal cancer in operative area. Spleen and part of diaphram removed. Chemo + Mitotane is a monster.
14. Dec of 2005, I am dx with Stage 4 liver and bone mets.
HOW does this happen after such aggressive treatment?! I was practically Stage 1?!
This stuff moved around and landed somewhere else AFTER drastic surgery, dose-dense chemo 2 week chemo, and all.
My husband and I are greiving. We feel like all of our children are doomed to this cancer fate. Statistics are 50% by age 16, 80% by age 30. Anyone else out there with this Genetics CRAP?
Julie
Last edited by julierene; 01-15-2006 at 09:05 PM..
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