I went to the doctor today....?

I am 29 and my mother passed away when she was 39 of breast cancer....she was diagnosed at 29. I found a lump 2 weeks ago, and today the doctor told me she wants me to get an ultra sound and she also wants me to get the genetic testing done. I AM SCARED TO DEATH!!!!! Should I get the genetic test? She says if the genetic test comes back positive I may want to strongly condider a double masectomy, especially if this lump comes back to be cancerous. Please give me advice!!! I am so scared I will turn out like my mom!!!

Yes you should get the test done.

The suggested double mastectomy would be to ensure that all your breast tissue was removed in the event of you having the faulty gene and therefore a greater risk of developing breast cancer, even if the lump did not turn out to be cancerous

I recommend that you have a look at these websites; as well as providing a lot of information, they have forums where you can talk to women who are or have been in the same boat as you are. The UK one, Breast Cancer Care has a number you can phone to discuss things a specialist nurse:

http://www.breastcancer.org

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Good luck to you, I hope your lump is benign

Listen to your doctor. I am sorry that you are going through this, yet it is better to take this thing head on rather than pretend it is not there.

Please do all that your doctor wants you to do. We need survivors to tell the stories.

I feel your fear. Breast cancer runs in our family as well and have thought of my own options. You must be the 1 to decide if you want a double mastectomy. It's so much easier now with plastic surgery. You will still have breasts so mastectomy is not so deforming.People don't even know. My mom chose not to have reconstructive surgery 18 years ago and I have to hear her complain everyday about how she wished she had had plastic surgery at the same time as her mastectomy.
Your Dr. is recommending the genetic testing. I would get it if my Dr. suggested it . Your mom got her cancer at a very young age and that's why the Dr. is making the suggestions he is.
You can write to me further if you like. Answers will send any e-mail to me. We can communicate further.
Try to relax. There is so much more being done for breast cancer now.

Breast cancer can run in families. Get all the tests done that are recommended. Worry about this is normal but scared to death often prevents you from making good decisions. It is better to know about this and treat it while it is still treatable rather than wait too long and then die. Get all of the tests done soon so that you will have your answers and won't have to keep worrying about it.

yes to the genetics test and there should be a second test testing the lump .if the lump test comes back positive a second opinion should be done. A double masectomy is the extreme. If the lump come back cancerous there are ways now to have just the lump removed. You can even have just the lump removed even if it isn't cancerous.