Fathers can give you ovarian cancer too

[Rachael47]

I doubt if this is true in my case, as my Ma had OC but if it was it would be the only thing the bugger did give me! Abandoned Ma when she got pregnant and never contributed anything. Except maybe my lovely blue eyes....

[keeponkeepingon]

Yes,I belive it can be linked to postate cancer.

[Katmal-UK in reply to keeponkeepingon]

That makes sense given if a male has the BRAC gene then they are monitored from a younger age, All links in even without BRAC.

[Etakeloop]

Although I am BRCA negative the genetic counselor is almost certain that whatever fault it is came down the paternal line

[January-2016-UK]

This is a link to BBC News regarding this research. Seems unrelated to BRACA. Still early days but research is getting closer all the time to untangling this web. bbc.co.uk/news/health-43031571

[March2017]

Yes they can , I have BRCA2 which could have come from either side of my family. My son will have the test at some point as he would be at a higher risk of male breast cancer/prostrate. As the screening doesn't start till 40 he will just keep an eye on himself in the meantime.

[Hidden]

RachaeL I read this information somewhere lately. But be gentle on yourself, I am sure your father missed out on much happiness in reality. Men can be so selfish but lets not make this a blame game., Unfortunately we get this illness, the oncs cant tell us why nor can they tell us if why some respond to treatment more than others. As we live longer with the illness they are just beginning to learn from us.

[85live4ever]

Hi Rachael, thank you for posting. When my oc came back the first time I phoned my aunty because I recall the family had their genes tested. I was told my grandfather on my mum's side gave it to his sons who gave it to their daughters. If that's so how did my mum & her sister get it & saddly died of it. Where did I get it from my mum so she passed it to her daughter? Does that mean I could pass it on to my son who could pass it on to his daughter?

I am very confused. I will be going to the cancer clinic next week for my monthly ca 125 & will ask about having private testing. I realise they don't do it through the NHS but I want to make sure I go to a real gene testing company & not someone at the end of the phone just taking your card details & leaving you high & dry.

When I was first told I had oc the surgeon ask if I had any Jewish blood in me I didn't think so. The reason is if you do your chance of getting oc & bc is 40% higher than if you don't. My younger sister had this testing they advertise on TV to see where you are from. They told her she has 6% Jewish blood that gives her a very high chance of having a BRAC 1/2 luckily like she doesn't but it also puts her risk up of having oc & bc. Hope you are well take care Cindyxx

[March2017 in reply to 85live4ever]

Just to let you know I was offered genetic testing straight away and I'm with NHS!

[CallmeMum in reply to March2017]

Hi lovely,

My special person was in a similar situation to Cindy the only genetic testing our hospital did was the BRCA testing.

[koffeekat99 in reply to 85live4ever]

In the UK there is genetic testing available on the NHS if you meet the criteria. If your mum and her sister had OC then it sound like you'd meet the criteria for testing. However, the NHS will generally look at the BRCA genes. This news article is about a possible different genetic link that has not been fully identified yet and as such there is no test for it yet.

Regardless of the new genetic link, with your family history it sounds like you should be eligible for the genetic tests that are available on the NHS.

[85live4ever in reply to koffeekat99]

Hi Katfish, thanks for that yes my mum, her sister & my cousin have all sadly died of oc my cousin was only in her late twenties or early thirties. I have 2 cousins both had breast cancer in their early thirties they are still here reaching their fifties. I have oc was given 6 months & I have almost made 3 years.

I believe most of my family have been tested for BRCA we are all negative. I will be seeing the onc Tuesday & I will bring this question up. They keep dismissing any more gene testing but the hospital I am at was bragging on our local news that they have one of the biggest & newest gene testing centres in the south of England I live in Southampton.

I can't really complain about the treatment I have been offered so far because I am still here. My daughter in law has been fighting for me from day one. Bless her the stress she is under is unbelievable & this is coming from someone who nursed her mum for the last 2 years of her life. Thanks for posting take care Cindyxx

[annieH1]

Yes it's true.I got my gene from my father as did my sister.The curious thing is our male siblings didn't have the Gene.

[Howick01]

I always thought that the Jewish connection was for clear cell.

I have a male walking friend who has breast cancer and his sister has ovarian cancer.It would be interesting to find out more about his parents.

Take care xxx

[85live4ever in reply to Howick01]

Hi Howick, that is very interesting I don't have clear cell but will be digging deeper to look into this. Thanks for posting. Cindyxx

[March2017]

I was told they couldn't tell which side of the family it came from as no ovarian or breast cancer in either family. so I've been told to tell all family both sides but as yet no one has been willing to have the test!

[85live4ever in reply to March2017]

Hi March2017, dont be too surprise if your family doesn't come forward. It's been like squeezing blood from a stone just to get any response from family members. They all know how important this is but still I have to keep pushing. I have 3 sisters & it's almost impossible to talk about their high risk to oc & bc because they keep changing the subject. Take care Cindyxx

[Hidden]

My own BRCA1+ mutation came to me through my mum, but she got it from her father. Of the 7 children my maternal grandparents had, three got the mutation, and four didn't. Of the three who did, one was my mum (breast cancer), another was my aunt (ovarian cancer), and the other was one of the sons who carried the gene and has passed it onto three of his daughters (my cousins). The reason why we didn't join the dots until relatively recently was down to a lack of information about my maternal great-grandfather's history. He married twice and had children with both women; the two wings of the family had no contact with each other. I have learned that among the children from his first marriage (i.e. my maternal grandfather's half-siblings) were women who died young from unknown causes, which I now suspect to have been breast or ovarian cancer. In this way, the mutation can slip insidiously from generation to generation.