BRCA Gene Mutation and Prostate Cancer

Ive been doing some reading and speaking with an Oncologist about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation, and had some surprises.
Most people know, that having one of these two mutations raises a woman’s risk of Breast Cancer (65% lifetime risk). It also increases a woman’s chance of Ovarian Cancer (40% lifetime risk)

What I did not know, is that it also increases both a man and a woman’s lifetime risk of Pancreatic Cancer (5% lifetime risk vs 1% for no mutation), colon cancer , and lung cancer (don’t have those numbers handy, git this from conversation with an Oncologist). This oncologist also mentioned higher risk if melanoma, although I have read that this connection is still being debated.

And finally, the mutation increases ones risk of Prostate Cancer. And from what I’ve read, familial (gene mutation related) Prostate Cancer tends to be more aggressive! This was a surprise to me. I would also assume, many men who are diagnosed in their 40’s would be shown to have the gene mutation if tested.

Many of us here have posted about our wives having had Breast Cancer. It’s super important for those women to be tested for the mutation, and if positive, the kids should be made aware. Sons included, not just daughters.

Jack64,
For me testing was arranged by KU Med.
It cost me out of pocket $200.

I believe the odds for breast cancer in men, although rare in itself, also go up. (Since there was colon cancer on both sides of my family, I have regular colonoscopies for that reason anyway.)

Djin

Jack64 said...
Pratoman, we have a double header in my family as this last year I’m currently being treated for prostate cancer and my wife just completed her treatment for breast cancer. I have a couple of questions. How do we get tested for this gene and who does the test? Also, is this a new test and is it covered by insurance? Thanks so much for your research and the ongoing support from you and this forum. On a side note and question. For any that have had radiation therapy, does the radiation cause any pain in the prostate area during the treatment, as I have a dull pain on my lower right side above the prostate region? Nothing serious just annoying at times.

Jack, any oncologist can (and should, if diagnosed) refer you to a Geneticist. Its generally done, as i understand it, when a woman has been diagnosed with Breast or Ovarian Cancer. It should be covered by insurance, certainly Medicare covers it, i think the laws state its required to be covered, but i could be wrong on that.

Re after Radiation, i never had any pain. The pain you are experiencing could be anything, might just be a muscle sprain. I would ask the RO abou tit

Wouldn't that be a hoot. PCa and BCa.

Because my husband and his father both had prostate cancer, my husband was tested for genetic mutations including the BRCA1 and BRCA2. I'm pretty sure that the testing was free--but I can't remember why now. My memory is that it was free because he is an Ashke**** Jew. Didn't make sense at the time but we considered it a silver lining.

In women only 1 in 500 have the BRCA mutation and it is mainly among certain ethnicities.

My wife was tested when she had her second bout of BCa as her maternal grandmother and aunt also had BCa. Her medical oncologist said she wouldn’t learn anything and he was correct. As I remember since she wasn’t in the ethnicity at risk to the mutation our insurance denied the coverage.

That was 10 years ago and a lot has progressed in the testing and findings. When I have asked several different doctors about genetic testing for me and my sons they have all said the major risk for PCa is being male and to monitor their PSA appropriately. So no tests till I learn something different.

Melaine said...
This may be slightly off-topic but I had my annual physical today and discussed breast cancer screening options to add to my annual mammogram. My doctor plugged in my numbers on the IBIS Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation Tool. The good news is that I qualify for yearly breast MRIs. (Not sure how this works. I think I "qualify" within my health system but insurance coverage may be another issue.) The bad news is that I qualify because of my high risk.

Just mentioning this so that you can share with the women in your life. I'm not sure why this hadn't come up before--either my high risk or the additional screening method--but I'm glad it did. The plan now is to alternate the mammo and MRI so that I have something done every 6 months.

Hi Melanie,
The 6 month alternating Mammo and MRI is actually the recommended screening protocol for women with BRCA mutations.

My wife’s family is riddled with breast cancer including her mother who died of it and her mother’s twin. Many in the family tested positive for the gene. When my wife was diagnosed, she tested negative. Go figure.