Is prostate cancer like breast cancer

I have heard it is, but at least, what are the similarities? Is it (just) a model to guide guesses; provide clues?

[pjoshea13]

There are some parallels berween PCa & BCa but many differences.

Back when I started sifting through PubMed, it was frustrating to find so few studies in some areas (quite different now) & I would take a look at BCa literature. One good example relates to the then new estrogen receptor ERbeta. The BCa papers were very useful to me.

But there are significant differences. Bone mets: generally osteoblastic in PCa but osteolytic in BCa.

I suppose that my view of things would seem perverse to those who see no role for estradiol in PCa (or testosterone in BCa - there are androgen receptors in the breast).

The title of a January paper shows that the two cancer types sometimes converge in the literature:

"Interconnection of Estrogen/ Testosterone Metabolism and Mevalonate Pathway in Breast and Prostate Cancers."

-Patrick

[Gecrellin]

Both breast cancer and prostate cancer may exhibit mutations to the BRACA1 and BRACA2 gene. If the individual with cancer has ne of those mutations their descendants and sibling could have a predisposition to developing cancer and should be tested regularly. We have long knows there was a genetic link within gender, but knowledge of the cross gender link is fairly new.

[Neal-Snyder in reply to Gecrellin]

Should we be tested for that? Is that a generally available test?

[Gecrellin in reply to Neal-Snyder]

My doc is primarily a researcher specializing in genomic testing. The DNA sequencing is available, takes months for the results, and I know nothing about he cost.

[Neal-Snyder]

I'm going to follow the well-informed replies with my unscholarly impressions from things I've read.

They're both hormonal cancers. It's likely that many, but not all, dietary & nutritional approaches that are beneficial for one are beneficial for the other.

Although after reading Patrick's posts, I don't know if very much of what I've learned about diet & nutrition for PC was valid.

[WendyL]

They are both hormonally mediated cancers -- so in many cases, one treatment line involves blocking a hormone naturally made in the body (estrogen in women, testosterone in men). Taxanes are a chemotherapy similarly used in both. Families with certain genetic mutations, specifically BRCA 2, tend to show more disease, etc.

[Hidden]

Yes, I've read that they are similar. They both involve glandular organs and as others her have stated respond to hormone manipulation therapy. Now that I have PCa I wonder if my daughter is more at risk for breast cancer. I hope not.