Family history can lead to male breast cancer?
Meet the Experts
Patricia A. Ganz, M.D. is a medical oncologist and a professor in the schools of medicine and public health at UCLA, and is director of the division of cancer prevention and control research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center there.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Ben: I know that breast cancer affects way more women than men, but it's very prevalent among women on both sides of my family. Should I be worried about breast or other forms of cancer (I find I'm just feeling anxious).
- Answer —Patricia Ganz, M.D.: You are right. Breast cancer is extremely rare in men. While there will be 190,000 new cases in women in the US this year, there will only be about 1,000 cases in men. Most of the men who are at risk do come from families where there may be a hereditary predisposition to the gene. Those families are characterized by early onset of breast cancer in the 20s, 30s, or 40s. If you are concerned that you may be one of these families, you might want to discuss genetic counseling with your female relatives to determine if this may be an issue for you.
On Wednesday, October 17, 2001, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Quality of Life. Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.,Marisa Weiss, M.D., answered your questions about how breast cancer can affect physical, emotional, social, and sexual aspects of your life.
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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