there are several things going on here...interestingly, I was not tested for any gene...found out that docs only test for this if you have a strong family hx of cancers, especially breast and ovarian (which I do not)...a doctor once lectured that the real value of the testing is for other family members to be aware of it and get their screenings early (if mom tests positive, any daughters, sisters, etc should get screened)...for example, the actress Angeline Jolie probably had the gene and she got a double mastectomy and preventive hysterectomy to lower her chances of recurrence...as for the ER positive receptor, I tested positive for that...a common treatment after surgery, chemo, and radiation is to be on an oral pill for 5-10 yrs to block the estrogen so the cancer cells won't feed on it...a common pill is called Tamoxifen...unfortunately, it can cause ovarian cancer (great...you get a cancer from taking a pill FOR cancer!...go figure)...thus may be why they consider if you are premenopausal....I was postmenopausal and still had my female organs when diagnosed so my onc (God bless her!) didn't even consider that med...she put me on a newer drug called an aromatase inhibitor (AIs for short)...does not have that side effect and I avoided having another surgery...long answer but hope the info helped
p.s.--if you are estrogen receptor positive, this is why you may be advised to avoid soy, soybeans, and edamane..but estrogen I found out is not only in food, it is in plastics (thus never microwave foods in plastic containers, I only cook in ceramic or glass), plastic grocery bags, some cosmetics, etc...good grief!! no wonder ER positive BC is the most common type...we're doomed!
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