Genetic testing for hereditary disease

[Dalph87]

Hi everyone.

As from the title, PC seems to run in my family, my grandfather had it and he did well just with surgery, my uncle had it and he did well with just radiation (although his radiotherapist reccomended surgery but he refused, I hope he won't regret it later), dad was diagnosed a bit late but thankfully not too late and is currently fighting it, despite the ups and downs he is in a good condition and still with plenty options available.

My andrologist said that I can be at risk too looking at my family history, I'm currently 30y old and would like to know if there's a way to see if this so called risk is really concrete or not.

He reccomended me to just do a PSA test yearly after 10 years (so at 40) but is there any other way to know exactly how much I am at risk of developing the disease in future?

Pretty much all the males in my father's side of the family are bald and started losing hair at early 20, at 30 I still have most of my hair and that's a good sign according to my doctor (I guess he could mean that my mother genes can be predominant so the chances are lower?).

If anyone has any information regarding this, I would really like to know to prevent any eventual problem.

Thanks in advance.

[dlestercarlson]

If your family has a history of cancer, you can have the Genetic Testing done to determine whether or not you have the cancer related chromo-zones.

[Dalph87 in reply to dlestercarlson]

I will look into it, thank you.

[Tall_Allen]

What would you do with the test results? Treat a disease you don't have?

[Dalph87 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Get screened more often of course.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Dalph87]

Every year after 40 is pretty frequent already. MSK advocates a PSA test once in your 40s, and waiting 10 years for the next one if PSA is under 1.0. Anyway, here's some info about genetic testing:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2018/02/...

[MichaelDD]

I am a stage 2 breast cancer survivor of 13 years. Radical mastectomy -4 months of chemo . 5 years of Tomixifin.

March of 2016 I was diagnosed with stage 3 Gleason 8 PC. Robotically removed in June of 2016. PSA before surgery was 12. After .024. 3 months later 38 sessions of radiation. Came out of radiation and PSA was .042. doubling about every 3.5 months since. I was 62 when diagnosed. This year I'm back into the single digits. Now new fight starts with HT/chemo.

Last year because of my odd combination of cancers I did have genetic testing. I want to leave my son and grandchildren with some peace of mind. Don't want them not to ask for testing as early as possible and as many times as they think needed. Leaving a piece of me behind so they know that if some sort of testing is needed hopefully this will help.

[Shooter1]

Mom and Grandma had breast cancer in 40's. I have stage 4 Pca. Insurance paid for genetic testing for BRACA 1&2. SAME COST FROM LAB TO TEST FOR 67 KNOWN PREDISPOSITION GENE MUTATIONS FOR CANCER. I had not even one, just got mine out of the blue. Able to tell daughters and brothers they should be clear and couldn't have gotten anything from inheritance. Didn't help me any but eased there minds.

Doug-AZ-Flagstaff

[chipler]

Very useful to know the if you have BRAKA 1&2 genes as those genes are related to prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancer.

Those genes are passed on to your son's and daughters so letting them know is a big heads up for what to watch/screen for in their and their children's futures.

If BRAKA genes are not present in your germ line cells, then yay !!

A load off their minds.

Furthermore, you can let your siblings know your results for the same reasons.

Unless your mother or her family has exhibited breast or pancreatic cancer... then testing would be in order if they want to know.