Since you have breast cancer, having mutations may change your treatment plan. It’s an easy test. You also might save your children or grandchildren, but I can tell you if you want to do it for your family not everyone wants to know.

When I found out I had the BRCA2 mutation and recommended other family members be tested, my emails received no response. Even the aunt and uncle that tested didn’t tell me. I found out two years later. Being the messenger wasn’t welcome with open arms.

When my mother reluctantly tested to identify which side of the family had the mutation, she was upset and feared she’d be blamed for any cancer in the family as if having a mutation and passing it on is by choice. She said she had already told everyone the various cancers my brothers and I all had were from my dad’s side of the family. That made me laugh. They were divorced. Luckily for her, she turned out to be right.