· BRCA1. Changes in this gene appear to increase a person's risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and possibly colon cancer.
· BRCA2. Changes in this gene appear to increase a person's risk for breast (women and men), ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. In addition, researchers suspect that defects in this gene carry an increased risk for lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and melanoma.

Until recently, genetic testing for alterations that increase susceptibility to cancer was performed only in a research setting. Within the past year, however, this kind of testing has become commercially available. Although, if you happen to test positive, your medical insurance will be cancelled and you may never get health insurance again. The same could be said for employment.

Given the above information, would you have the test performed on you if you had a history of breast cancer, and if it were positive what would you do? Something as radical as a double mastectomy (with immediate reconstructive surgery), or perhaps two mammograms a year?

Just hypothetically wondering what you would you?