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IN THE NEWS: Down the Road

As teens, you take tonsa tests. Math tests, the SATs, tests to get your driver’s license. But researchers, and ‘rents, are debating dolin’ out another kind of test.

The Washington Post reported that there’s been a major increase in the number of women who are gettin’ tests to see if they have a specific genetic mutation—one that can lead to breast cancer. If women know they’re more likely to get cancer, they may alter their lifestyle (and, say, quit smoking). Now, the debate has turned to girls. Families and docs are tryin’ to figure out if it makes sense to screen teen girls for the genetic mutation.

But teen girls rarely get breast cancer, and testing may lead to years and years of extra worrying. Some younger women who have taken the test, and discovered they had the mutation, were considering major, life-altering decisions (like removing their breasts) before they were even 20 years old. Clearly, finding out ya may have cancer down the road would be majorly upsetting.

So, here’s the question. Would you wanna know if you had a gene that made you more likely to get breast or ovarian cancer? Do you think testing for the gene makes sense in younger girls. Or should you just live your life and see what happens?

By: Katie Abbondanza

BY JIAE K. ON 9/22/2008 3:25:00 PM 36 COMMENTS

36 READER COMMENTS

Yikes!
That would be so scary to worry about something huge like that! I rather not know.
1st comment jjk SOOO Annoying

cross-country chick on 9/22/2008 3:44:36 PM

I would not want to know. They could say that you have a possibility of getting cancer and it may only be like a 35% chance. But if they were to say that you are at risk to getting it, I would be paranoid and be afraid to go the doctor for risk of having cancer.

cookiemonsterxox on 9/22/2008 3:50:16 PM

oh my gosh! That is so scary! Getting breast cancer as a TEENAGER??!?!? I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE KIND OF THING ONLY MOTHERS GOT!

thnx for the info!<3

xxdreammeupxx on 9/22/2008 4:05:11 PM

that would be scary....i really wouldn't want to have to worry about that but i would kind of like to get tested early cuz then they could catch it early and could actually treat it

nirvanaluver on 9/22/2008 4:41:00 PM

I think that I would want to know. If girls are informed then maybe they are more likely to be aware. They need to know risks but still not become out of control. Maybe if women who have had breast cancer had known about a genetic mutation than they could have been doing a self-examination and been aware of their bodies. They would have caught it earlier and then they have a better chance of fighting it. I think girls should be informed, especially if a relative has had it because don't doctors think that heredity may play a factor? I don't know. But I would want to get tested.

<3

Skrap05 on 9/22/2008 5:01:58 PM

Personally, I would wait till I am at least 21 to get tested for it. I think it is too premature to test teens because there will still be time to stop cancer if a women does get it in her 20s.

allmaewin on 9/22/2008 5:07:47 PM

i'm taking i-step[standerdized test in indiana] i hope i get a good score on it!

volleyballhannah on 9/22/2008 5:10:05 PM

omg! this is so scary! id only want to get tested when im younger! now im gonna be so scared!

lucky charms on 9/22/2008 5:38:47 PM

I would just live life and see what happened. But I'd like to know what to do to decrease the risk NOW (before it's too late)!!!

Eclaire97 on 9/22/2008 6:03:56 PM

I think it's a good idea to test teen girls for the mutation , but it should be the teens/parents choice. I would like to get tested to see if I have the mutation , but I wouldn't worry , I would just go for screening when I'm 18- 20 years old and continue screening like every 2 years.

thtswtgir on 9/22/2008 6:11:30 PM

thats hard, ummm i think i would rather not find out and just live healthy anyway to have a lesser chance of getting cancer.

dance1roxmysox on 9/22/2008 6:57:19 PM

What happens, happent. Teens, especially teen girls, have ennough stress (ant tests!) in their lives already, why should anyone add so much more?

Blond chica on 9/22/2008 7:29:53 PM

well... given the chance i would so want to find out... i mean, plan ahead, right? but right now, im fine... i don't think i'll get breast cancer anytime soon, if ever.

writerchickwithfeelings on 9/22/2008 8:06:18 PM

Whoa, I never knew teen girls could be in danger. But I don't even have boobs yet! I totally agree with thtswtgir.

*Wink*Wink* on 9/22/2008 8:13:36 PM

i wuldwant ta no ltr in my life not as a teen and not until they got a cure for it!

cappiegirl112 on 9/22/2008 8:30:18 PM

OMG thats so scary

jojo thy clown on 9/22/2008 8:37:24 PM

wow that a toughie......... i mean if u could stop it now.........great but what teen girl needs another worry

BasketballGirl on 9/22/2008 8:45:04 PM

that would be so hard! I would personally not want to know becuase i am a huge worrier and i would want to live my life without worring about dangerous, deadly things like tthat.

s1309012 on 9/22/2008 9:00:38 PM

AHHH!!!
welll there r 2 sides of it

If i found out then I think my way of life would change. I would live EVERY day to the fullest. try to get in all the laughs, tears, everything

But, I would be scared to death!!! I would lay awake everynight wondering if it was my last day, wondering when it would be for sure, wondering how long until it struck
i think i would end up changing my mind TONS of times prooly even at the last second

MOD...
I REALLLY like this guy...
but theres 1 little problem,
IDK how to talk to him. IDK how to sart a convo, flirt, anything
i always get really nervous and kinda just stuuter abiut random stuff!!!

HELP!!!

pinkpolkadots4ev on 9/22/2008 9:31:03 PM

i'm gonna live a healthy life style anyway... then i will know i've done all i can to prevent it. But i would like to know, cuz my Dad was adopted so who knows what kind of diseases his birth parents had.

Cheerleadin' Cowgirl on 9/22/2008 9:36:53 PM

MOD...
I REALLLY like this guy...
but theres 1 little problem,
IDK how to talk to him. IDK how to sart a convo, flirt, anything
i always get really nervous and kinda just stuuter abiut random stuff!!!

HELP!!!

pinkpolkadots4ev on 9/22/2008 9:37:22 PM

I say just leave it unless it helps for scientific purposes. I mean if you find out you're gonna keep worrying about it. "Oh no do I have it today??" It's better to find out later on...even though it's bad sometimes you have to deal with things. My friend's aunt just died because of cancer yesterday.

MunkQoo on 9/22/2008 9:42:26 PM

Pinkpolkadots4ev-

Just be yourself. Try making eye contact and smiling at him. If he smiles back, then go talk to him. Start with simple questions like, "How are you?" "Did you have a good weekend?" Things like that. Take your time, and become his friend. Whenever I get nervous I remind myself that he's just another boy. Practice what you'll say to him in the mirror. Or look at his yearbook picture when u speak. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Cheerleadin' Cowgirl on 9/22/2008 9:43:02 PM

Hmmm, I don't know what I'd do. Probably go to the doctor. it'd better to find out as soon as possible.

kat107 on 9/22/2008 9:50:36 PM

OMG that is so sad how so many people get it at that young age. I am hoping I don't have the gene. That would be very scary to go through.

~smiles~ on 9/23/2008 5:46:12 AM

I wouldn't want to know if i was gonna have cancer. First of all, this doesn't necisarilly mean that you will have cancer. Second of all, I wouldn't be able to live my life to the fullest because I'd be wayyyyyyy to scared. I would be way to upset!

bushcoo64656667 on 9/23/2008 3:47:32 PM

moderators! ok this kid on my block well he is 1 year older than me his mom died from breast cancer when he was like 2 i feel so bad but he can just talk about it freel and not cry and stuff how can he be so strong when i hear about it i cry?? xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo also where can i get a livestrong / pink one

Hey babes,he can probably talk about it because he was only 2 which was a long time ago, it also means that he doesnt really remember her sicne most memories dont happen until youre about 4. You can get a pink breast cancer bracelt from the susan g koman website but the livestrong bracelet only comes in yellow. xo JANA

friends r 4 eva on 9/23/2008 5:07:51 PM

I'd rather not know...I mean, why worry about something that you have no real control over? And why worry about something that "could" happen? It might not even happen. Plus, you'd be gray before 20!

blondie_cutie_smartie on 9/23/2008 6:47:49 PM

I DONT WANT TO KNOW

Gwen's Fan on 9/23/2008 7:02:52 PM

There is already to much stuff they want teenage girls to do. I would just wait and see what happens.

Tennisgirl93 on 9/24/2008 1:22:50 PM

i would like to know before i have cancer, obviously, but i wouldn't want to know if it wasnt going to be a problem. if it will be a prob when i amd 20, ill take it when im 18 so i can be prepared. i want to be prepared, but i don't want to know years and years before it is an actual problem.

fashionista8613 on 9/24/2008 11:13:21 PM

that's so scary! i wish i wouldn't have read this now i'm going to be a nervous wreck for months!!

sparky4me on 9/25/2008 6:12:52 PM

nopes i like taking life as it comes

have_a_heart on 9/26/2008 4:01:32 PM

i wan tto live a healthy lifestyle, regardless of my risks for disease. I think that if breast cancer runs in your family, then you should do the test, and if it doesn't, wait until later in life to start worrying about it. Either way, everyone should take precautions to lesson the risk of cancer

chocolatelover423 on 9/27/2008 11:32:56 AM

OMG! Yeah we should get tested. But don't make a big deal. Get tested younger like 12 or 13 and change your lifestyle so that it won't happen when you're older.

BalletBabie on 10/3/2008 9:31:24 PM

id rather not know and live my life normally. that way when i find out i know ive lived a life without worrying day and night.

tokio hotel lover <3 on 10/13/2008 3:49:53 PM

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IN THE NEWS: Down the Road

36 READER COMMENTS

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