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PC connections to Ovarian/Breast cancers in women?

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Posted 3/20/2018 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Over the last few weeks, our 33 year old daughter has been through the process that began with an ovarian cyst (15 cm!), led to removal of that ovary, to a diagnosis of early stage ovarian cancer. Officially, she is "between stage 1 and 2 because the Fallopian tube was "questionable" ", and is preparing for her first chemo next week.

Today she had an appointment with a geneticist, who told her that there is (some) evidence for family connections between PCa in men and both ovarian and breast cancers in women in the same family line. This is a new one for me, but it's not really surprising. The tissues involved have the same embryonic roots--and may well have some of the same genetic markers.

Has anyone else heard of this connection?
Posted 3/20/2018 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert-

My prayers are with your daughter.

Perhaps the geneticist was talking about the BRCA1/2 link? There's a spit test now that costs only $99 through Color Genomics or 23andMe. A more complete test of germline DNA repair gene abnormalities is available from Color genomics for $249.
Posted 3/20/2018 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
One of the ROs I consulted (I forget who), noting in my family hx that my mother had breast cancer, commented that a link has been found between breast and prostate cancer (tho there's no hx of prostate cancer in the family).
I found this at ASCO Cancer.Net:
"Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. HBOC is associated with mutations to the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes. BRCA stands for BReast CAncer. HBOC is most commonly associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women. However, men with HBOC also have an increased risk of developing breast cancer and a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are thought to cause only a small percentage of familial prostate cancers. Men who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations should consider screening for prostate cancer at an earlier age..."
Posted 3/20/2018 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Just want to pass on my best wishes and prayers to you and your daughter.

A few years ago I had a similar sized cyst removed which was thought to have been ovarian cancer (I received a false positive test result) following a pretty major op fortunately it was found to be ok. I am one of the lucky ones. However, I can appreciate the worry yourself and your daughter must be going through. It sounds like they have caught it early and are taking the appropriate course of treatment. I believe there to be an excellent recovery rate so try and think positively through this worrying time. Easily said but tell yourself... they’ve got this in its early stages.

As Tall Allen said I’ve heard of a possible BRCA1/2 link... I was actually going to post recently about it because I’m experiencing a few problems again in that area. From what I understand women with a mutation in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 can be linked to an increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. My father has aggressive pca and so I’ve considered being tested myself ... what with the complications I’ve had in the past and in to the present day.

I’m sorry I can’t elaborate further but I would say it’s definitely a test that some need to consider.

Wishing you both well. Please let us know how yourself and your daughter get on x
Posted 3/21/2018 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
TA, she is getting some genomic testing done....we'll see what pops. Thanks for the thoughts. Her treatment plan is 6 months of chemo, every 3 weeks, then additional surgery to remove everything else. She is an RN (with a previous BA/MS/PhD in biochemistry, so she does pay attention to the current protocols). The oncologist told her that there is no reason to believe she won't die of old age a long time in the future.
Posted 3/21/2018 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
So glad to hear she's got a good prognosis, Halbert. Wishing her well, here's hoping she sails through treatment.
Posted 3/21/2018 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
My prayers are with your daughter.

I am from a BRCA1 family. Mom had mutation confirmed. I have it. Brother did not get tested.
He got Prostrate Cancer at 55.

Mom was 43 Breast Cancer; 54 Ovarian Cancer
Her mom; 43 Ovarian Cancer
Her Grandmother 54 : Not sure what type. Sisters: unsure what type. Couple in 40's; couple in 50's.

Thankfully, your daughters were caught at early stage.

Blessings
Posted 3/21/2018 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I recommend FORCE website for further information.

Facing Our Risk Cancer Empowerment?
Posted 3/21/2018 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Halbert, I'm so sorry to hear this.
I've got a fair amount of experience with OC, so if you want to talk, shoot me an email and we can set up a date/time for a call. I'm driving north the next 3 days, so will be hard until after the weekend, but if you think it would be helpful I'd needless to say, be happy to talk with you. Or we can talk by email.

So glad it was caught in the early stages.
Posted 3/21/2018 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
My sister was treated for breast cancer at MDA when she was about your daughter's age. That was 30 years ago.

15 years ago she was told here in TN that her ovarian "cyst" was "likely" cancerous....went to MDA....and was told by them they'd watch it. She had them remove it anyway and it was non cancerous.

She's 62 now. Healthy as an ox

Sorry to hear...

....and God Bless
Posted 3/21/2018 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
"The oncologist told her that there is no reason to believe she won't die of old age a long time in the future."

That's very encouraging! I can't add anything to this discussion that's technically helpful, but I can certainly add my best wishes for a good outcome for your daughter!
Posted 3/21/2018 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Breast cancer runs on my mom's side. She has had it and I also have a sister who has had it and now prostate cancer for me. Sure makes sense they could be related. My mom's brother had prostate cancer too. Fortunately, all of us are still around and all cancer free anywhere from 6+ to 20+ years.

TomUFC
Posted 3/21/2018 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
@breakthecycle et al
Thanks, my mother died of ovarian cancer, but when I raised the idea of a linkage with my PC several of my earlier doctors were (nicely) dismissive. From these postings, I think maybe those docs were wrong.
Posted 3/21/2018 3:36 PM (GMT 0)

halbert said...

Has anyone else heard of this connection?



I wish her strength. (And I wish you strength in supporting her...the similarity of your long-term prospects for longevity based on your favorable PC case will, perhaps, be a new area for you to bond with her; you wrote "The oncologist told her that there is no reason to believe she won't die of old age a long time in the future.")


Regarding your question, there's been many discussions here at our site about "the connection." If you want to pursue the connection, use the site's Search function and enter these two words: prostate BRCA

Post Edited (NKinney) : 3/21/2018 3:03:50 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/21/2018 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear this. We'll add her to our prayers.

My husband's first MO told us to advise our daughters to be on the lookout for breast and/or ovarian cancer. There is no family history of either PCa, breast cancer or ovarian cancer in his family.

Donna

Post Edited (RandyJoe) : 3/21/2018 1:50:37 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/21/2018 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert,
Sorry to hear of the diagnosis, glad prognosis is positive.
Will pray for your daughter.
Take care.
Posted 3/21/2018 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I wish you and your daughter all the best. I have none , zero, zip PC in both sides of my family. But my mom lost her fight to ovarian cancer at a young age of 43.
Posted 3/22/2018 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Halbert, my sympathies for your daughter. A terrible diagnosis, especially at such a young age, but know that you are not alone. 7 years ago my daughter, then aged 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a full mastectomy and all seemed well until 4 years ago when she developed mets in her liver. Treated with 10 rounds of chemo and then 3 weekly infusions of Herceptin and Perjeta. Again all seemed well until January of this year when she was found to have mets in her brain. The largest lesion was removed surgically and 4 others treated with gamma knife radiation. So far she has remained feeling quite well. She is and always has been super fit and very sports oriented as are her 3 lovely daughters aged 17, 14 and 12.

When she was first diagnosed she considered genetic testing for the sake of her daughters, but the geneticist suggested she was unlike to carry the BRCA gene as it was rare in her type of breast cancer (Her2+). Given the cost here in Australia and the fact that it wouldn’t affect her treatment she didn’t proceed.

However now that I have PCa it has become more relevant and my MO has suggested that I, at least, should be tested especially as it could open up other treatment options. So I will be doing that before too long.

I wish you both well, and let’s hope it isn’t too long before we can go beyond the genetic testing, but also be able to effect gene repair so that this scourge can be eradicated.

All the best, Chas
Posted 3/22/2018 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Halbert sorry to hear about your daughter. Wishing the best for the both of you!


Larry
Posted 3/22/2018 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert - I am really sorry to hear of your daughter's diagnosis. My thoughts and prayers are with her and with your family. We, as PCa patients, realize how much these diseases are "family affairs." They affect the family in ways others cannot understand.

We recently found that there is breast cancer on my wife's side of the family. We are still learning how to deal with that, as to me, it seems even more scary than PCa. I'm sure that as we learn more, we will begin to feel more confident in our knowledge of what we face.
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