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Men With BRCA Gene Mutations Unaware of Cancer Risks
Men who have inherited a mutation (a fault) in one of the breast cancer susceptibility genes (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2) are at increased risk of prostate cancer and sometimes male breast cancer.  A/Prof Judy Kirk, who runs the Familial Cancer Service at Westmead and who works closely with the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, said that men from families with a strong family history of female breast cancer often do not realise that they may be at risk, nor that they can pass on the faulty gene to their own sons and daughters. Prof Kirk said that a recent review of literature about men’s acceptance of genetic testing (The Impact of Social Roles on the Experience of Men in BRCA1/2 Families: Implications for Counseling by Mary B. Daly; J Genet Counsel (2009) 18:42–48 DOI 10.1007/s10897-008-9183-y) indicated that men in families with BRCA 1/2 gene mutations should be aware of their inherited risks.

"In families with an inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer due to a mutation (fault) in either BRCA1 or BRCA2, both men and women may have the mutation. For anyone shown to have a gene mutation each of thier children (male or female) have a 50% (1 in 2) chance of having the same gene fault"

Prof Kirk says "When a family is found to have a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, our service provides them with a letter to notify all relatives (men and women) as this may have implications for their healthcare. They are encouraged to let their family know about this new genetic information. Although both men and women can be offerd a genetic test (to see whether or not they have inherited the faulty gene), it is true to say that more women present for genetic testing than men. Men are often pleased to know that if they do not carry the 'family gene fault', then their own offspring are not at increased risk."

"Women with a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at high risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, but men are also at some increase in risk of certain cancers, particularly prostate cancer. For men who inherit a mutation in BRCA2 or BRCA1, annual prostate cancer screening is advised from age 40-45 and early investigation of any suspicious lumps on the chest wall is recommended"

Professor Judy Kirk and Dr Annabel Goodwin, Westmead Hospital

 Last Updated on Monday, 08 February 2010 16:06