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JoeDavies
JoeDavies Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Male Breast Cancer

Sadly my grandfather has been told he has a cancer in the breast, he has had a operation and awaiting the results to come back on the 29th August. He is 93 and a amazing man... What i want to know what are the percentages of me or my father of getting this as well, on record my grandfathers wife had breast cancer also 2 of my sisters and my aunt... So whats the likelihood of it being passed on?

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  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited August 2008
    I also wonder about this with my son's.  The only thing you can do is educate yourself and keep a check on your health. Talk to your doctor about it the next time you have a reg check up.
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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited August 2008

    I was told if my mother was dx after age 70, it didn't count.  As 90% of breast cancer is NOT hereditary, I don't know that any of the info is a comfort.

    Monitor yourself regularly and be sensitive to your body............

    if you're lucky, at 93, something else will get you Kiss

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  • Larry44
    Larry44 Member Posts: 53
    edited August 2008
    Most cases of breast cancer are not inherited. If you are really concerned, you could talk to your doctor about having genetic testing done. However, the percentage of men who get breast cancer even with the abnormal BRCA1 and 2 genes is pretty low, I think about 10%. I have not had genetic testing done as I would not consider getting a prophylactic mastectomy even if the results showed abnormal genes so the results would not be meaningful to me.

    Any man can get breast cancer, it is the luck of the draw. Since men are not screened for breast cancer we need to do monthly self breast exams and go to our doctor if anything unusual is found.

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited September 2008

    If I were you, I would certainly mention this to your health provider, and have him check you at your regular physical.

    Things that happen to our relatives at this advanced age are hard to use as anything other than a bit of information to take into account.  Because we all die, and 1 out of 3 of us develop cancer, and because cancer is an aging disease (despite what we hear) most docs would ignore this.  

    But since it is your body, and your only one, just stay alert to a possiblity, watch for changes.  They are much easier to find in a male body than a female one, so just keep an eye on this yourself. About 70% of women who develop breast cancer have none of the "pointers" that indicate higher risk.  Also, almost all men over 80 have prostate cancer, and it will only kill about 10%, if that, the rest die of something else.

    So stay vigilant, don't focus your life on this.

    Gentle hugs, Shirlann

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  • ginger2345
    ginger2345 Member Posts: 517
    edited September 2008

    Your greatest increased risk thru family history of bc is your first degree relative--in your case, your sisters. I'd be very vigilent and discuss this with your doc at your next appointment.

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  • Msklapkin
    Msklapkin Member Posts: 208
    edited December 2008

    Joe,

    No one has mentioned BRCA testing to see if you have the gene mutation.  Since it is in your 1st degree family, you can test.

    The statistics mentioned above are only what we know from testing.  there are probably more genetic BC but we do not know because the genetic testing is generally not done.  These statistics only tell part of the story

    Please check out www.facingourrisk.org for more info

    praying for your grandfather

    Susan

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