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Male prostate cancer raises risk for female breast cancer?

Page last modified on: August 26, 2008
Question from Sandefeet: Can a male with prostate cancer raise risks for female family members for breast cancer?
Answers —Carol Cherry, M.S.N., R.N., A.P.R.N., B.C.: Not in every case, but in some families where there is breast or breast and ovarian cancer, we do find males with prostate cancer. If we see a man in such a family with an early onset of prostate cancer, i.e., in 40s or 50s, which is not a typical age of diagnosis, we would be suspicious of a hereditary syndrome.
Terri McHugh, M.D.: If there was testing in such a family and altered BRCA gene was found, then yes, it would increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Breast Cancer Risk and Your Family. Carol Cherry, M.S.N., R.N., A.P.R.N., B.C. and Terri McHugh, M.D. answered your questions about how family genes affect risk, pros and cons of genetic testing, and ways to lower your breast cancer risk.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Carol Cherry, M.S.N., R.N., A.P.R.N., B.C.Carol Cherry, M.S.N, R.N., A.P.R.N, B.C. is health educator, Research Project Manager, and Cancer Risk Counselor in the Margaret Dyson Family Risk Assessment Program at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Pennsylvania.

Terri McHugh, M.D. is a medical oncologist/hematologist and director of the Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics program.

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