1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Jun 14, 2006, 5:04 pm PDT

Choosing to learn whether or not you’re a BRCA carrier is a very personal decision. If you are a carrier, the preventive choices you take are also very personal. As many of you may know, these decisions involve different things for different women - from sense of self, body, sexuality, youth, mortality, empowerment, fear, control, guilt and much more. In short, no decision surrounding BRCA is simple. Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals who can help women (and men) consider whether testing is right for them - weighing the pros and cons of testing, evaluating preventive options, and discussing implications for family members. My company, DNA Direct, offers confidential BRCA testing with genetic counseling before, during and after testing. It is in essence a “virtual” genetic testing service for women and their families who don’t have easy access to testing services or who are concerned about keeping test results private. All of our testing is anonymous, and all of our services are Web- and phone-based. You can find more information about us at www.dnadirect.com, or read our blog and join in discussion at talk.dnadirect.com. Elissa Levin, MS, CGC Clinical Director

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Oct 18, 2006, 11:27 am PDT

I am a BRCA1 survivor and have 4 sisters, 3 of which have been also tested after I tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. My initial test for $3500 was covered by my insurance company and the tests done by my sisters were only about $350 if they chose to pay for them out of pocket. One had been told she would be denied prophylactic surgeries by her insurance company and while she was waiting for open enrollment at her husband's company to change insurance companies she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer at 39. So she got the prophylactic salpino-oopherectomy she wnated and chose a bilateral mastectomy to battle her cancer. Because she did her slef breast exam and caught it early she did not undergo chemotherapy as I had to. I encourage all women that have a strong family history of breast cancer to consider genetic testing and if the insurance company hassles you, don't give up and keep fighting. The more aware people become of BRCA1 and BRCA2, the more likely fewer women will have to fight for their rights. I am now a 4 year survivor and chose a lumpectomy first until I found out I was BRCA1 then I chose a prophylactic mastectomy and salpino-oopherectomy. I have never regretted than choice and I really like my new set of breasts! God bless you all and good luck to you.

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