ahhh, the good ol' BRCA test rears it's ugly head!
most people who take this test, which determines if the subject has a genetic mutation which may potentially lead to breast cancer, are either positive or negative. jane, however, is neither - an anomaly rarely seen, or at least her 'version' is rarely seen. it has only been documented in one other family - and as previously noted, was not an indicator either way for possible cause of cancer. additionally, this diagnostic tool can inform oncologists post-surgery and treatment - do ovaries require removal, as the mutated gene is also an indicator for ovarian cancer. if said bits and pieces are taken out, menopause ensues, along with all of the complications brought on by an immediate 'life change' as opposed to a gradual subsidence of fertility!
so we look to this test, and it's strangely and very uncharacteristically inconclusive ... ugggghhhh! jane is forced to have her parents tested in canada - if they carry this same mutation, and are healthy (ie. cancer free) then this odd situation means nothing - and jane can sit tight. so, test kits go fedex, and are held up at canadian customs, and jane screams, and the bloods are drawn, and the kits fedexed back, and are held up at u.s. customs, and jane screams, and the tests go to the lab.
and they come back showing that jane's mother, who has never had cancer, also has this seemingly innocuous mutation only known in one other family. so that's good news for the BRCA burkah test! we think no more impending surgeries, female mutilation, or other unspeakable acts which tend to drive us insane. but who knows, we'll see what the doctors say!
round two of chemo lurks on friday, we're armed with netflix dvd's, bald heads, and clear minds. dinner will arrive courtesy of noushin, laleh, sheila, and gang - sparing me the indignity of struggling to throw something together in my distracted state. a weekend of forced rest is assured - maybe i'll organize the taxes (the pain of it all!) and make productive use of the time while jane (hopefully) slumbers and finds her equilibrium.
stay tuned!
most people who take this test, which determines if the subject has a genetic mutation which may potentially lead to breast cancer, are either positive or negative. jane, however, is neither - an anomaly rarely seen, or at least her 'version' is rarely seen. it has only been documented in one other family - and as previously noted, was not an indicator either way for possible cause of cancer. additionally, this diagnostic tool can inform oncologists post-surgery and treatment - do ovaries require removal, as the mutated gene is also an indicator for ovarian cancer. if said bits and pieces are taken out, menopause ensues, along with all of the complications brought on by an immediate 'life change' as opposed to a gradual subsidence of fertility!
so we look to this test, and it's strangely and very uncharacteristically inconclusive ... ugggghhhh! jane is forced to have her parents tested in canada - if they carry this same mutation, and are healthy (ie. cancer free) then this odd situation means nothing - and jane can sit tight. so, test kits go fedex, and are held up at canadian customs, and jane screams, and the bloods are drawn, and the kits fedexed back, and are held up at u.s. customs, and jane screams, and the tests go to the lab.
and they come back showing that jane's mother, who has never had cancer, also has this seemingly innocuous mutation only known in one other family. so that's good news for the BRCA burkah test! we think no more impending surgeries, female mutilation, or other unspeakable acts which tend to drive us insane. but who knows, we'll see what the doctors say!
round two of chemo lurks on friday, we're armed with netflix dvd's, bald heads, and clear minds. dinner will arrive courtesy of noushin, laleh, sheila, and gang - sparing me the indignity of struggling to throw something together in my distracted state. a weekend of forced rest is assured - maybe i'll organize the taxes (the pain of it all!) and make productive use of the time while jane (hopefully) slumbers and finds her equilibrium.
stay tuned!
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