BRCA Gene Mutations and male BC

I have not had genetic testing done.  I have no children so the information would be of no value to me or to my doctors.    I researched and learned that men with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene  have about a 6% chance of getting bc during their lifetime.   I would not have a prophylactic mastectomy with only a 6% chance of getting bc and knowing that most bc caught early is successfully treated.

I have been urging all men to do monthly self breast exams as any man can get bc.  Men are not screened for breast cancer during routine physicals.  Please don't worry about the possibility that your sons might someday get breast cancer, it is not very likely even if they have the abnormal genes. 

Not to throw grease on the fire, but if you have any relatives at all, you might want them to know you had breast cancer if there is some kind of family history of bc, ovarian and/or prostate cancer.  My father had bc, as well as his mother, all of her sisters and two of his cousins.  We were all tested on that side of the family and are BRCA2+.  There is also an increased chance of BRCA 1 or 2 if there is an Ashkenazi Jewish background, even if it may have been great-grandparents.  There is an increased risk among African-Americans as well as people of Icelandic descent.  I have done a lot of looking into this and have found a lot of information at FORCE, www.facingourrisk.org, in dealing with the gene mutation.  If nothing else, maybe a consult with a genetic counselor is in order.

I have one son of my own and my brother, who is also BRCA2+, has both a boy and a girl.  All of them are underage so we will wait until they are 18 at least to let them know about the inherent risks.  My cousins are also BRCA2+ so they have to make a decision with their kids. 

I also thought I would mention that my uncle, again he is BRCA2+, gets a mammogram and exam at Fox Chase Cancer Center yearly.  Surveillance is the key.  I have done all of the prophy surgeries as well.

Beth

I am a 53 yr old female and a 3 year survivor of breast cancer. My course of treatment was a mastectomy and a helacious bout of chemo. My question is I have a 14 year old grandson who has found a lump in his right breast. He is quite frightened. I have tried to reassure him, but I guess I need reassurance! I am going to attempt to get him to Childrens Hospital for a check up. What type of response should I expect? Will our fear kind of be blown off, or should I expect empathy and some tests to outrule that something is going on there. His mother has had cervical cancer. My mother and 2 sisters have had breast cancer. Although he is a boy, I know there is male breast cancer and do not want to blow this off, but will the doctors? Thank you for listening...EXTREMELY concerned Grandma in Tennessee

bump

My dh's mom died from bc...is he at a greater risk?

Hi Larry - I forgot I posted this! A belated thanks for the response. I just watched a segment on World News Tonight about a man and his daughter. He found a breast lump that turned out to be malignant. Then, as a preventative measure his 32 yr old daughter went for a Mammogram. Unbelievable! It showed a malignancy as well! They did chemo together! It's good that they tell stories like that one...more men will become aware. Hope all is well with you.

Hi...

          Male breast cancer is a rare condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, about 1,990 new cases of breast cancer in men will be diagnosed, and that breast cancer will cause approximately 480 deaths in men (in comparison, over 40,000 women die of breast cancer each year). Breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men. Most cases of male breast cancer are detected in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age. A man's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about one-tenth of 1%, or one in 1,000......

Hi chelli,, My dad was dx with Stage II bc at approx. 62 years.. now we were told that our risk was low and not to do anything except what normal women do.. so for years I went to get my usual mamo and they were always clear.. then my daughter's primary care physician suggested that I be BRCA tested and so I did.. it was negative, but in order to get the BRCA test I went to a genetic counselor who suggested because of family history to get a breast MRI so I did and while I was waiting for the BRCA to come back I had a breast MRI that showed a suspisious lesion..  breast surgeon wasn't convinced that I needed a biopsy so he ran another mamo, a digital mamo, and a sonagram all were negative.. but I did have a biopsy and DCIS was found..  I have tried to get all the members of my (blood line) relatives to go their doc's and NONE of them have.  I have even given them a copy of the "map" that the genetic counselor worked up - still nothing.  I think it is denial but I do believe, for me, the genetic map said it all and I would suggest to you to have the genetic workup to allow the "map" for anyone in the family to see..  it certainly turned my head!!  BEst

Hi Chris

Just wanted to say hi as being in the minority here its good to chat to other men now and again with this disease. Whilst my diagnosis was different I still had a mastectomy. Its been just over a year for me and I still am getting over the mental side of things. I pray you will be ok. Feel free to send me a private message if you ever want to chat.

Im 38 yrs young and was lucky that it was found early and really want to see my kids become parents (8 and 5) so I intend to beat this in every way I can and I am sure that you will too. Let me know how your results went.

For the treatment, go with what your doc advises and what you feel comfrtable with. Initially they were going to just cut my nipple off (I had blood and thats how it was found). This changed with surgeons advice to mast. Seemed overkill at the time but I worry a lot and so knowing all my breast tissue was gone helps me sleep better at night. There was no more BC in my breast so losing my nipple could have been ok but I would have always had the worry.

Fingers crossed for you mate

Mark

I am glad I read your posts. Thank you for informing us that the BRAC gene CAN be passed to our sons. I have a very rare form of it, only present in 12 families - mainly in the Venice, Italy area. My son was dx with Hodgkins Lymphoma about 18 months before I was Dx with BC. He finished his last chemo the day before I started my first one.  (He had 5 or 6 rounds of treatment -  20-25 individual chemo treatments over 2 years.) He knows I carry the gene and also understands men can also get BC, but I don't think he is aware that he is far more likely to get BC than other men.