Results: Genetics Testing

If you recall from an earlier posting in late March, I had gone in for genetics testing to see if my cancer was caused by a gene mutation in the 16th chromosome which would make it hereditary.  To view that post, click here.

Earlier today I had gone to the lab at the Kaiser in San Mateo to have my INR done.  Afterwards, I headed to the Social Security office to handle some business.  Apparently when my family had applied for social security numbers back in 1991 (I was 9 at the time), whoever filled out the application checked the wrong box and put me down as male.  This was never caught until a few weeks ago when I called Social Security about some business and the man on the phone asked me if I was male or female.  I was confused and told him I was female.  He said that the system had me down as male.  So I had to get my mom to mail me my original birth certificate in order to have it changed.  I checked in and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  While waiting, I received a phone call from my genetics counselor.  She told me that the results were in.  It was the moment I was patiently waiting for.  Was my cancer hereditary or did I just have bad luck and it randomly chose me?

According to No Stomach For Cancer, 1-3% of gastric cancers are caused by Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC).  This increases the risk for developing this type of cancer at a young age.  I'm only 30 so the idea that my cancer could be this didn't see so far off.  My geneticist told me the news.  I tested negative for the CDH1 gene mutation.  This is good news!!!!  Why?  Because had I tested positive, this would mean that my family could also carry the mutated gene and that would increase their lifetime risk of developing HDGC by up to 80%.  I am happy that this disease stops with me.  It's not in my bloodline.  So then why did I get cancer at 30?  What did I do wrong? Is it because I ate meat as a kid?  Is it because of the pesticides I was exposed to as a kid?  Was it because I drank like a fish when I was in college at all those frat parties?  Why me?  We just don't know.  And we will probably never know.  The geneticist continued to tell me that she would send me the results by mail and also some additional information.  We hung up and I prepared myself as I had to reveal the news to my family.

It seemed like forever (an hour and a half) but I was finally called up and showed the guy behind the desk my birth certificate.  He took a copy and typed away on his computer.  In a few minutes I was done and I headed on out to grab something to eat.  When I got home, I removed my wig and slipped into lighter clothing.  It was 86 degrees outside.  I was eager to find out if I had any mail so I put some shoes on and headed out to the mail boxes outside.  I almost reached the bottom of the stairs when I realized I didn't have my hat on.  I flew back into my apartment to go grab it.  My complex is huge (700 units), located near a shopping mall, and on a busy street.  I was lucky no one saw me.  I'm just not ready to walk around without a wig, scarf, or hat.  I'm afraid of the way people would look at me.  They wouldn't understand.  I don't look like a cancer patient.  I look healthy.  People would probably think I had a Britney Spears moment and shaved my hair off.  I like blending in with the crowd.  If I'm going to cause attention to myself as a bald person, I want it to be in the right setting.  Like doing Relay For Life.  Otherwise, I just feel like the world is not ready to see bald Marta.

A special thank you to No Stomach For Cancer for providing the valuable information about HDGC.