do i even wanna know?

i went for my annual "female" exam this morning.  last time i had my exam i was at planned parenthood, so this was my first time to see this doctor.  i really liked her.  she was knowledgable about more than my "lady parts."  she understood my heart diagnosis and my depression issues. 

one things is weighing on my though.  in my family history i put that my mom had breast cancer in her early 40s.  the doctor said that it's a big concern for me (i know this).  she said i can have genetic testing done that will tell me if i have the gene for breast and/or cervical cancer.  if i do, then i can have my breasts and/or ovaries removed to prevent getting cancer.  basically, i can go all angelina jolie.

this has left me unsettled.  first of all, do i even want to know?  i think the smart thing would be to find out and prevent it.  i have not only myself to think about, but alex. 

second of all--lose my breasts and/or ovaries? that's everything that makes me a woman.  i know there is plastic surgery.  i know that i'm probably finished having kids.  it would still strip me of everything that makes me a woman.

sometimes knowledge is power.

sometimes ignorance is bliss.

how do i decide in this situation?  is it better to know?  once i know, what do i do?  what a huge decision to have to make and i usually have trouble deciding what i want for dinner.

thoughts?