How does risk increase if your father has breast cancer?

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190dawg
190dawg Member Posts: 30
edited July 2018 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

After having my own lump scare, I found out my father has breast cancer at the age of 71. It was blessedly caught early. He is scheduled for a lumpectomy this coming Friday, and is undergoing genetic testing for my sake (I am his daughter).

I am wondering how this increases my personal risk as his 28 year old daughter. I know it increases my risk, but at what level? Is this the same as having a mother have breast cancer....? I apologize for the ignorance. Thank you all for your help.

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited May 2018

    So sorry to hear about your dad’s diagnosis. Here’s a link to some information from BCO on this topic. I’m so glad he’s having the genetic testing. Hopefully it will give you some answers.

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  • 190dawg
    190dawg Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2018

    Hi Lula,

    Thank you for your reply! I don't think the link came through, would be so kind as to repost it?

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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited June 2018

    I tested positive for PALB2 my mother was tested ans turned out negative. This means it came from my father's side. If genetics are involved a parent has a 50 percent risk of passing that gene abnormality to each offspring. Therefore each of my sister's have a 50 percent of having the PALB2 gene.

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2018

    190dawg- I’m sorry, I didn’t see your post or realize I forgot to post the links! Here you go:

    https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20101024

    https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/genetics

    https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/family-history-increases-risk-in-other-breast


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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited June 2018

    190dawg, I have a friend, a man, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. He had a mastectomy, and then had genetic testing. He was positive for the BRCA-2 gene. Based on this finding, he had a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side. His son was also positive for BRCA-2 and had prophylactic bilateral mastectomies. His daughter tested negative for the mutation.

    When your dad has his genetic testing he'll probably meet with a genetic counselor, who can answer questions about genetic risk and who should be tested. If your dad turns out to have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, you'll need testing too.

    Most cases of breast cancer (about 80%) turn out to have no detectable genetic link, but we don't know what we don't know.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited June 2018

    Your chance of inheriting your dad's genes (all of them) is 50% for each gene, so you would worry as much about having a BC dad as a BC mom.

    As sbelizabeth says, genetic testing comes with counselling, so await your dad's results then you'll know if you need testing too.


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  • 190dawg
    190dawg Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2018

    Thank you all for your replies! Dad did have testing, although after his lumpectomy it was discovered he had no malignancy. There was Atypical ductal hyperplasia, and a benign papillary lesion. So, I'm not sure if this translates into increased risk or not since it turns out the biopsy was incorrect and he did not have DCIS as originally thought.

    They did go forward with genetic testing though because of a family history of other cancers (pancreas and colorectal). His results should be in next Thursday. Wish us luck! Thank you again.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited June 2018

    This is looking like good news for you (and your dad). Let us know the genetic test results.


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  • 190dawg
    190dawg Member Posts: 30
    edited July 2018

    Hello to all! The results are in, and he does not have any mutations. Great news!

    It's been a rollercoaster. I guess I technically don't have a family history of breast cancer since there was no malignancy (a benign papillary lesion and ADH), but I'll definitely stay on top of my annual exams and self checks into the future. Thank you all for your info and support. I appreciate any and all of the advice!

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited July 2018

    Good news for your dad!

    Also wise for you to keep up with things.

    I almost wished I had a known mutation to explain the strong family history of BC on my mother's side. Then there is a chance my daughter might test negative and we'd have some assurance that it might be the end of the line for that bugger. It happened in my DIL's family. Brca1 for Gma and mom. DIL is negative. Good thing too because we have 3 granddaughters from that family. (Actually my stepDIL.)

    When I did genetic counseling I got bonus “points" in my overall lifetime risk % due to a family history of male BC.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited July 2018

    190dawg, good news, indeed.

    Farmerlucy, it's good that you've pointed out the male bc risk when it comes to the genetics of this disease, and I hope everyone is aware that male kids/grandkids need to be included in the monitoring equation both for their genetic legacy As well as their propensity to various cancers.


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