Breast Cancer Genes Also Raise Men's Risk for Malignancy

FRIDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Men whose mothers, sisters ordaughters test positive for a breast cancer-causing mutation in the BRCA1or BRCA2 genes may also have the mutation and be at increased risk forcancer, a new study finds.
Most of those men are unaware of the danger, noted researchers at FoxChase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who examined how families discussgenetic test results.
Men with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a 14 percentlifetime risk of developing prostate cancer and a 6 percent lifetime riskof developing breast cancer, the study authors said.
"Despite these health implications, we have found a lack ofunderstanding of genetic test results among men in these families," studylead author Dr Mary B. Daly, senior vice president for population scienceat Fox Chase, said in a prepared statement.
The researchers interviewed 24 men with a first-degree female relativewho tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRAC2 mutation. All the women said theytold their male relative about the test results, but only 18 of the menremembered that they were told.
About half the men (7) who did remember being told the test resultsdidn't believe that they also had an increased risk of cancer. Only 5 ofthe men correctly assessed their chance of having a BRCA1 or BRCA 2mutation.
"We devote a significant amount of time learning how best tocommunicate genetic test results to women, but this study shows we alsoneed to help them communicate the information to their male family memberswho may be impacted by the test results," Daly concluded.
The study was expected to be presented Friday at the San AntonioBreast Cancer Symposium.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cancer genetics.