Breast Cancer in the Family: What It Means

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Breast Cancer in the Family: What It Means

If ovarian or breast cancer is a family trait it could mean you have a genetic mutation that increases the chance of developing prostate cancer as well.
While women are more aware of the cancer risk due to the BRCA1 as well as BRCA2 mutations which are recognized to increase the risk of breast cancer The men who have families with the mutations must know their personal cancer dangers, too.”When people come in and talk to me about their family history and the possibility that they carry a BRCA mutation, they usually ask about the health risks affecting their sisters and mothers, not their brothers and fathers,” says Tehilla Brander who is an expert cancer genetic counselor, who also serves as codirector of the cancer genetic counseling program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.There are certain cancer risk for those who have BRCA1 as well as BRCA2 mutations, which include an increase in the chance of developing prostate cancer. People with the BRCA1 mutation are at risk of a risk of 29 percent to be diagnosed by prostate cancer throughout their lives according to the study that was published at the beginning of January in the journal European Urology. This risk rises by 60 percent men who carry the BRCA2 mutation. In addition, those with a BRCA2 gene mutation might suffer from an more severe or more protracted prostate cancer, Brander says.If you’re a male and have family members with breast or the ovarian cancer or you’re aware that BRCA mutations are a part of your family Here’s what you should know to know.

 After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Have a Conversation With Your Family

First, you must discover all you can about your family tree. This could include an open to discuss the family tree with all family members, particularly those who are women.

“Often in families, women are the keepers of stories and will know the family history,” says Allison Werner-Lin, PhD. associate professor of Penn Medicine’s School of Social Policy and Practice in Philadelphia who is a specialist in the hereditary cancer.

“They may communicate this to their daughters rather than their sons, but it’s important to open the door so that everyone knows the family history and is open about risk,” she adds.

Prostate Cancer Stages

Relay This Information to Your Doctor

It is crucial that men communicate the information they’ve learned as well as any previous history of ovarian or breast cancer to their doctors. Knowing the family history of these illnesses can assist your doctor provide advice on your risk and next steps to take, Brander states.

See a Genetic Counselor

If you have any history of the ovarian or breast cancer within your family Your doctor is likely to refer you to a genetic counselor in order to examine your risk further, and the counselor may organize for you to undergo genetic tests done.

You can also locate an expert in genetic counseling by visiting the National Society of Genetic Counselors site. Brander suggests the Find a Genetic Counselor tool that can assist you to locate a counselor close to you.

Following your tests for genetics and are determined to be carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you’ll most likely start the prostate cancer tests with your physician. This could include routine prostate-specific antigen testing and digital rectal examinations. Although men typically undergo this procedure between 45 to 50 years old however, those who have been confirmed positive for BRCA mutation could begin this process earlier, starting at age forty, Brander says.

Manage Your Risk

There is no way to completely get rid of from a cancer diagnosed all by itself, but studies suggest actions you can make to reduce the risk of getting cancer. It is recommended that you Mayo Clinic recommends eating a balanced, low-fat diet that includes more vegetables and fruits and avoiding dairy, with at minimum 30 minutes of exercise regular exercise every day throughout the day. Research indicate that more frequent Ejaculation could reduce your risk of being diagnosed.

Although the lifetime prostate cancer risks are quite high and rise with age for BRCA mutation carriers there’s an underlying conviction that hereditary cancers tend to be only a problem for women according to Dr. Werner-Lin states. “As many men traverse genetic counseling and come to terms with their risk, they may find that lots of the messaging isn’t about them — it’s about them protecting their daughters,” she says.

It is important to keep the lines of communication openespecially with your parents and sons brothers, as well as other males in your family. You should also continue in discussing your health background. “Part of what’s important is for men to have permission to focus on their own risk,” Werner-Lin explains. “Your risk may be lower than your sister’s and mother’s and daughter’s, but it’s okay for you — in concert with the rest of the family — to claim the space to care for yourself, too.”