Results of My DNA Testing Are In...Scary!

Yardlie · ‎03-10-2010

A month ago I submitted my saliva sample to 23andme for DNA testing. I received my results already. I deliberately picked a different one than my sister used. She just did the short test on Ancestry ($49). All she got was a statement saying that she was 95% European and 5% Subsahran African. Ancestry also has a more expensive test that does a more comprehensive breakdown. We wondered where the African came from, but we had some ancestors from the South, and it was not unheard of to have intimacies with slaves.

Anyway, my test results were very comprehensive...but I was found to be 99.9% European (it broke down the countries) and less than .1% Subsaharan African. Hmmmm. My sisters are going to do further testing.

But...that isn't the scary part. Along with your results, you also get what they call "raw data." This you can turn around and upload to promethease.com for $5. They want the data for their research. (No I am not afraid of security.) In return, you get an extremely comprehensive breakdown of each gene....what each gene carries and your risks for developing medical problems due to it...compared to the norm. Actually, you can download it to a zip file but can't print it out, as it is thousands of pages long! It only takes about 10 minute to get these results after you upload your raw data.

Here comes the scary part. I have the mutated BRCA2 breast and ovarian cancer gene. It told me that I have a risk of 6 (out of a maximum magnitude of 6) of developing cancer due to it. My mother and her sister both had breast cancer. I don't think they checked for the BRCA gene back then. Both were caught early. There were a couple other things I was higher risk for also. Aren't we all?

I just had both a 3D and a 2D mammogram a few months ago. It was OK, but I will be calling for a doctor appointment on Tuesday...probably with a gynecologist at this point.

Just one more reason to have your genetic testing done, although I'm sure some people would not be comfortable knowing all these risks. Sorry this is so long.

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. ~~ Steve Maraboli

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

For the breast cancer, glad you'll see the doctor about this. Nothing to play with. Hoping for the results you want and need.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

I found out that I am 90% Eastern European and 10% British. I wish I could discover who that British ancestor was, I have read dozens, perhaps hundreds, of British fictional histories. Now I wonder how I came to do that. It is my ultimate British mystery.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

Yes that news is scary! And I am glad you are going to see a dr. about it. I am wondering how accurate this test is against the actual BRCA test. Now I don't know a thing about any of these tests so I hope I haven't offrended you. But until I hear results from a dr that knows what these tests are all about, I wouldn't get too freaked out. Being a breast cancer survivor of 4 years now, I had no family history of cancer and even during all the testing I got, I never had the BRCA test done. But since you do have a family history of cancer, you need to be extra careful , which you are---BRAVO--------good luck to you. Also there is a cancer survivors board here that you are very welcome to visit. Lots of great people going thru all sorts of junk. Come visit!!

Yardlie · ‎03-10-2010

@qualitygal ... Thank you. I've informed my sisters and my daughters to get checked also. I don't know about my son. I'll ask the doctor. I've heard that men can get breast cancer too.

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. ~~ Steve Maraboli

Adamlambert · ‎05-28-2015

I'm skeptical. How do you know this is even accurate? Getting thousands of pages of results in a few minutes?? It takes weeks to find out toxicology results and several days to find out if you have streptococcus, for example. I certainly wish you the best and hope it's fine.

AKgirl2 · ‎05-24-2016

@Brinklii wrote:
A month ago I submitted my saliva sample to 23andme for DNA testing. I received my results already. I deliberately picked a different one than my sister used. She just did the short test on Ancestry ($49). All she got was a statement saying that she was 95% European and 5% Subsahran African. Ancestry also has a more expensive test that does a more comprehensive breakdown. We wondered where the African came from, but we had some ancestors from the South, and it was not unheard of to have intimacies with slaves.

Anyway, my test results were very comprehensive...but I was found to be 99.9% European (it broke down the countries) and less than .1% Subsaharan African. Hmmmm. My sisters are going to do further testing.

But...that isn't the scary part. Along with your results, you also get what they call "raw data." This you can turn around and upload to promethease.com for $5. They want the data for their research. (No I am not afraid of security.) In return, you get an extremely comprehensive breakdown of each gene....what each gene carries and your risks for developing medical problems due to it...compared to the norm. Actually, you can download it to a zip file but can't print it out, as it is thousands of pages long! It only takes about 10 minute to get these results after you upload your raw data.

Here comes the scary part. I have the mutated BRCA2 breast and ovarian cancer gene. It told me that I have a risk of 6 (out of a maximum magnitude of 6) of developing cancer due to it. My mother and her sister both had breast cancer. I don't think they checked for the BRCA gene back then. Both were caught early. There were a couple other things I was higher risk for also. Aren't we all?

I just had both a 3D and a 2D mammogram a few months ago. It was OK, but I will be calling for a doctor appointment on Tuesday...probably with a gynecologist at this point.

Just one more reason to have your genetic testing done, although I'm sure some people would not be comfortable knowing all these risks. Sorry this is so long.

@Yardlie Thank you so very much for your post, hopefully, it will save a life. It's certainly a good decision on your part to go to the doctor to discuss further options/steps...an ounce of prevention, right?

Chrystaltree2 · ‎12-08-2014

With your family history your insurer would pay for genetic screening for the breast caner gene, you still need it done. And then it's a matter of mammograms or ultrasounds every six months. Risk does not mean you are definitely going to get something. Personally, I'm not interested in knowing that I'm 5% this or 8% that. That's meaningless to me. I'm on the fence about my medical genetic profile. But I certainly don't trust for profit companies, I know they want my money but I know nothing about who does the testing, the criteria used, their qualifications, education, certifications. So, how could I trust the results? I suppose it might be fun in parlor game way. But I'm more conplex than the geographical area my disant ancestors might have come from.

tedEbear · ‎03-22-2015

@Yardlie----If it has been a short time since your mammo, don't worry too much. Just relax and enjoy the weekend!!!! It is very exciting to get your DNA done, but the other, for $5.00?, seems like too much information for so little. Why couldn't you print it out? Was it you didn't want to, or did that come from them?

You probably gave them enough information that iit was easy to give you general info. Mine would say--------you have markers for BC, Colon,Stomach,Lung cancers. DIABETES, ALCOHOL ADDICTION!!!!

Go see your doctor and talk to him. Lots of luck and let us know.