Grandma (mothers side) died from breast cancer in 1957. at age 65. Surgery, than radiation.
My mother had mastectomy in 2002. at age 71.
5 of 13 lymph nodes positive. Radiation, chemo, then 3 or 4 years arimidex.
Today at almost 89 alive and (almost) kicking.
Her sister had breast cancer when she was at over 80. Only meds, died at 92 from other reasons.
My onco thinks that those facts could have something with me only if I had breast cancer, not PC.
Is he right?
Your onco could be wrong. This Swedish study supports association with PCa and several other cancer types.
Familial Associations Between Prostate Cancer and Other Cancers
europeanurology.com/article...
Patient summary
It is known that prostate cancer runs in families, but it is not known whether other cancers are common in such families. We showed that at least breast, kidney, and nervous system tumors and myeloma occur more often than by chance.
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) has a large familial component, but understanding of its genetic basis is fragmentary. Breast cancers may be associated with PCa, but whether this is true for other tumor types is poorly established. We used a novel approach to study familial associations of any type of cancer with PCa. We assessed the relative risk (RR) for all types of tumors as a function of the number of first-degree relatives diagnosed with PCa. We hypothesized that for a familial association to be real, the RR for a given type of cancer should increase with the number of PCa diagnoses. In families with multiple PCa patients, significantly increased risks were observed for female breast cancer (RR 1.37 for families with three men with PCa), kidney cancer (RR 2.32), nervous system tumors (RR 1.77; RR 2.40 when PCa was diagnosed before age 70 yr), and myeloma (RR 2.44; RR 6.29 when PCa was diagnosed before age 70 yr). Some evidence of association was also found for melanoma (RR 1.82) and endocrine tumors (RR 2.18). The consistency and magnitude of the effects suggest that familial PCa is genetically associated with breast, kidney, and nervous system tumors and myeloma. This suggestion has implications for clinical counseling and design of genetic studies.
Thanks Gemlin. Good to know. Will ask my onco again. His answer is 3 years old.
This is a review of genetic evaluation of hereditary prostate cancer. It has info about what mutations to look for and what tests are possible to do.
BRCA2 passed from grandpa(died of prostate cancer), through mother(died of breast cancer at 53), down to me Dx with stage4 MPCa at age 75 in 2018.
One aunt and 7 of her children all died from cancer.
My daughter not positive for BRCA2 so my gene line safe. I notified all my cousins, and their children I could find to be tested.
Positive just BRCA2 means you are something like 70% more likely to develop certain types of cancer. (I've had 4)
Do your research, get tested, be proactive before you get tagged.
2Dee
Thanks for that advice. My dad has PCa, should I first get him checked for the gene? If he doesn’t then the children cannot have it right ?
Or do all the children have to get the test separately ??
First IF there are known bloodline relatives with any cancer contact a Genetic Counselor. (See your Nurse Navigator for referral.) They will judge whether anyone should get Genetic Tested.(simple blood draw. My ins sent an agent to my home)
After testing results counselor will discuss the options based on test results.
If positive for certain mutated genes then alternative treatment is usually covered.
For example PARP inhibitors for BRCA2 mutation.
Genes may be passed on by EITHER mother OR father. (50% chance?)
Having mutated gene can be passed on without having developed cancer from it.
2Dee
Similar. Mother died of BCa in 1974. I have had PCa and Colon Cancer (and about to be genetically tested - I'm sure I'd test positive for BRCA2) Son has, according to 23 and Me, a 35% chance of PCa. I once heard an onco say that breast cancer and prostate cancer are two sides of the same coin.....
You need to have genetic testing. In addition to Foundation Medicine, which uses a tissue sample from a biopsy or prostate removal, there is a simple saliva test from Color.com you should consider. Genetic counseling for you is essential.
Should you be BRCA2+, which I am, you may very well benefit from having treatment with a PARP inhibitor like Olaparib. I have been on it for over a year, and my PSA has been undetectable. This is what precision medicine is all about.
Leave no stone unturned.
Glad that you are well with Olaparib. Will do genetic tests. As 2dee posted: Do your research, get tested, be proactive before you get tagged.
Hi. Sadly my brother passed away last month from mCRPC. Before he died I tried to have his oncology team do a genetic test on him using the Color (or similar) test kit. A positive test for MSI or BRAC1 or 2 might have shown a different treatment pathway. No interest shown by the Onco team.
Our father died with PCa at 95 years of age. I was diagnosed with GS7 (3+4) in 2012. After PBT in Korea, my PCa is in remission.
I have two sons in their thirties, one has two lovely daughters. I plan on having the Color test in coming months, to pre-warn me of the possible hereditary gene defect that I might carry that possibly might have been passed on to my kids and grandkids. However, I will keep the results to myself until my sons get into their 50's, as I don't want to burden them with unnecessary worry.
Instead educate everyone. It will be THEIR decision on how they each will deal with their bodies and how they will help their progeny.
2Dee
game theory and cancer
Oligometastatic PC and Radiation
Metastatic PC
Treatment options for local PC that is resistant to radiation 
Genetics and Family
