My cousin literally saved my life by being tested at Johns Hopkins when he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Our mothers were sisters and both had breast cancer. He was super concerned when he handed the records to me, hoping I would be be ok and also able to help his son. I had mine done in an offhand way, I didn't even absorb the positive because I always assumed it was positive with the number of relatives who had it so I felt no angst it felt business as usual. Stuff got real fast when I was talking to the Gyn Cancer Dr, seems there is what I call "Family Math" that evaluates statistics and BRCA2 is for quite a few cancers. Found out my chances were 65% for Ovarian and would climb as I aged, made him say it 3 times than another apt with family because ovarian cancer is fairly rare and I thought I wasn't hearing him right. Dr said it was a non rush to get them out in 2 months ( shock rush to me) & guess what, there was a clump of abnormal cells in one of my ovaries, not cancer but I'll be damned if it wasn't on it's way. I'm having my Pancreas watched too, there is some weird stomach stuff as well and who knows what else is linked really.
Only reason to not do testing is for life insurance because you probably can't get it if you are positive so line it up first. This is why I was waiting but when I was dragging my feet my Immunologist put it best by saying, "Look, the cats already out of the bag in your records." Sometimes I hate knowing but then I think about my ovaries and realize I might not be here if I didn't. You are already a survivor, knowing BRCA status won't make life harder but you could save a blood relative's life like my dear cousin did, God rest his soul. Just a thought
This stuff is very closely held but I told them to open mine even after I am gone to any family members further out in relation, thinking on it I need to make sure that directive actually was attached to my records.