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Breast Cancer Sucks, Love Amy: December 30, 2022: Genetics Consult Online

Genetics Consult Online


Had an appointment with the genetic counselor today.  So what I've come to understand is that yes, I can screen for mutations that may explain my early-onset breast cancer, however if nothing is found that does not mean that I do not have some sort of heritable pre-disposition for breast cancer. 


So much is unknown.  What we could discover with screening, potentially is mutations known to increase cancer risk, but also nearly as likely is that we may just find mutations which have yet-unknown implications.  But the way i figure is this: some knowledge now is better than none. 


Since insurance will pay for a wide-ranging screen I would do my sister and children the greatest service by doing this screen.  The implications of the results, both in terms of further screening and privacy in defense of insurance coverage I understand. 


I understand that there are risks to being prevented from having health insurance, should the U.S. protections for folks with pre-conditions be dropped.  I also understand that there is always some level of privacy loss risk, when one asks for their health insurance to cover for the payment of various treatment procedures.  My screening will provide indirect, and thus far some privacy-protected cancer-oracle for my children as well as for my sister.

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