My Check Up - BRCA Testing and Breast Cancer

Blood work was perfect today!  I will get a call later about Vitamin D levels from third blood draw.  No more appointments with oncologist till November!  

Dr. Charles went over the same ole same ole things he always does about reducing my risk of cancer coming back:

Still pushed to exercise at least four times a week for 20 minutes (proven to reduce risk of re-occurrence up to 50%) 

No wine/drinking (wine increases production on estrogen in your body).  So even though research shows wine may help reduce risk of heart problems it elevates, highly, the risk of breast cancer which is much important issue as a breast cancer survivor.  

No smoking - no worries, never have, never will

Keep Vitamin D levels up to reduce my risk of cancer coming back by a large percentage though I can remember the exact.  I wonder how that relates?  My totally un-researched theory?  Chemo weakens your bones and you need to make sure to strengthen once finished with chemo.  Vitamin D is essential for calcium to be absorbed into your bones.  Perhaps the Vitamin D normal levels help your bones regain health through absorption of calcium?  Those with high risk of re-occurrence can have new cancer re-appear in bones.  Maybe the Vitamin D is so important to strengthen your bones which when strong might fight off cancer cells???  I have NO idea.  That's just a out there kinda stretch of my imagination.  Nothing based on medical or scientific research. (Although it would be neat to look into this further.)

My Vitamin D levels dropped very low last year.  I believe you should be around a 30 for normal Vitamin D level.  My average is 27-28.  But one appointment my level was 15.  I was put on 50,000 units of Vitamin D a week for 4 weeks.

Dr. Charles, who in my three years with him seems to be a very conservative oncologist when it comes to future tests and radiation based tests (PETs, etc) due to exposure, suggested I have the new 2nd generation genetic test.  I'm not big on genetic testing but since Dr. Charles wants me to I will.  I trust him.  This test is mostly for risk of breast-ovarian cancer (HBOC) I believe.


Hmmmmm, writing on Jolie a few weeks ago shot right back at me. I pretty much know if the test turns out to be positive (first generation wasn't) what my plan will be.  And will go with proactive prevention/research due to my prior diagnosis being estrogen, progesterone and HER2 positive.  Reminder to self: knee jerk reaction to a test can cause future problems in other areas (no ovaries = having to worry about all the problems related to having those removed itself and treatment for that issue which would in turn mess up keeping an eye on my estrogen levels (fat cells produce estrogen, not just ovaries) which all in turn impacts risk of re-occurrence of breast cancer.......

Dr. Charles has never encouraged me to have a hysterectomy because of potential links.  A large reason being that fact that your body produces estrogen in other areas-not just ovaries.  Therefore removing ovaries doesn't cure risk of cancer returning for those with estrogen fed cancer.  But it does cause problems association with hysterectomy.  

This is all just too complicated……

Interesting side note: there are many proactive things you can do for prevention of breast cancer or re-occurrence of breast cancer.  Such as diet, exercise, vitamins (D), no smoking, etc.  The only dietary proven prevention: no drinking.