Gosh, I think you have had some misinformation. Hopefully, we can reassure you.
Genetically linked prostate cancer is very rare - thought to be less than 5% of all prostate cancers. The indicators in a family are:
- diagnosed young with advanced prostate cancer or one that is persistent and does not respond well to usual treatments (e.g becomes hormone resistant very quickly)
- a significant pattern of male relatives diagnosed young with prostate cancer
- male breast cancer
- mother and other female relatives diagnosed young with breast cancer (generally, in their 30s or early 40s)
- close relatives diagnosed with other hormonal cancers such as uterine or ovarian cancer
- being (or descendng from) an Ashkenazi Jew
You seem to have very few if any risk factors. Your uncle was youngish at 50 but his treatment was successful so the cancer was not particularly resistant. Your dad was diagnosed in his 60s - about 60% of men in their 60s have prostate cancer so it might be more unusual if he didn't have it by now! There are no aunts but you don't mention your grandma having a hormone cancer in her 30s or 40s - presumably, if dad's mum had died young you would know because he would have been orphaned with his dad dying so young?
As a woman, you have something like a 15% chance of getting breast cancer at some point but that doesn't increase because of your dad and uncle. It is essential that you check yourself regularly. If you are really worried, you could ask the GP to refer you for a BRCA test (and other genetic tests if your dad is a European Jew) but you may have to pay. Also worth bearing in mind that, if you did turn out to have a gene fault, you may find it very difficult to get things like a mortgage or life insurance in the future. Some things we are better not knowing until all our big life plans are sorted!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Yes, I think you should try to relax. You are about to go on a wonderful holiday - there is a small risk of skin cancer in the future but it doesn't stop you from living your best life!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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Gosh, I think you have had some misinformation. Hopefully, we can reassure you.
Genetically linked prostate cancer is very rare - thought to be less than 5% of all prostate cancers. The indicators in a family are:
- diagnosed young with advanced prostate cancer or one that is persistent and does not respond well to usual treatments (e.g becomes hormone resistant very quickly)
- a significant pattern of male relatives diagnosed young with prostate cancer
- male breast cancer
- mother and other female relatives diagnosed young with breast cancer (generally, in their 30s or early 40s)
- close relatives diagnosed with other hormonal cancers such as uterine or ovarian cancer
- being (or descendng from) an Ashkenazi Jew
You seem to have very few if any risk factors. Your uncle was youngish at 50 but his treatment was successful so the cancer was not particularly resistant. Your dad was diagnosed in his 60s - about 60% of men in their 60s have prostate cancer so it might be more unusual if he didn't have it by now! There are no aunts but you don't mention your grandma having a hormone cancer in her 30s or 40s - presumably, if dad's mum had died young you would know because he would have been orphaned with his dad dying so young?
As a woman, you have something like a 15% chance of getting breast cancer at some point but that doesn't increase because of your dad and uncle. It is essential that you check yourself regularly. If you are really worried, you could ask the GP to refer you for a BRCA test (and other genetic tests if your dad is a European Jew) but you may have to pay. Also worth bearing in mind that, if you did turn out to have a gene fault, you may find it very difficult to get things like a mortgage or life insurance in the future. Some things we are better not knowing until all our big life plans are sorted!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Hi Lyn
Thank you so much for your reply. You have no idea how much I’ve been worrying.
Dad’s mum died at 86 - not from cancer.
Not sure what my great grandparents died of but surely that doesn’t make much difference? I know they died in their early 60s.
I’m about to fly to Dubai on holiday and this is what I’m obsessing over :/
I can relax, right? Sorry :(
User
Yes, I think you should try to relax. You are about to go on a wonderful holiday - there is a small risk of skin cancer in the future but it doesn't stop you from living your best life!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Skin cancer from the holiday or genetics? Lol
Promise I’ll shut up after this one lol
User
Ha! No, I meant from being laid out on a sunbed in 40° sunshine! Of course you may not be a sun worshipper but I am :-/
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Haha! Thank you!
It really means a lot that you have taken the time to reassure me x I’ll have a cocktail for you!
User
Hi Stargazing
I'm thinking you've had your holiday and back home. I hope you had a wonderful time.
I relate to what you are asking, as my wife's male relatives had Prostrate Cancer at 66 and 68 and she was concerned as her Dad's Mother and his Sister had Breast Cancer age 50 had a Mastectomy + years on Tamoxifen and it returned in same area at age 63.
My wife was told she had Breast Cancer following her very first Mammogram and had Surgery and Rads, which was a shock, she had a fear that like her Aunt, it would return, and it did but in her other Breast exactly 13 years later like her Aunt.
She discussed with her Cancer Team both her male relatives Prostrate Cancer and her Female Relatives' Breast Cancer (as we have Sons and a Daughter plus Grandchildren), and she was advised by Oncologist Consultant that the concensus of opinion amongst Academic Researchers is that if BOTH Prostrate Cancer and Breast Cancer are Hormone related then yes they are likely to be a result of Genetics, but it is still very early days in their Studies. He advised that our Sons and Daughter should have regular PSA Tests and Smear Tests to find ANYTHING at an early stage.
May not be exactly what you want to hear but with regular self testing and Smear Tests each year at least you can keep yourself as safe as possible rather than trying to brush it under the carpet.
My wife and I have BOTH been diagnosed with Cancer, she with Breast Ca. And myself with Prostrate Ca. You couldn't make it up!
Scott
User
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
My brain is in overdrive now again :/
I mean, in my case, I can’t just assume that if I had female aunts and great aunts that they would have had breast cancer, right?
I just have my uncle and Dad with prostate cancer. No aunts or great aunts exist to know more.
User
Hi Scott
What relationship were the prostate cancers cases to your wife?
Thanks
Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberHi Stargazing
I'm thinking you've had your holiday and back home. I hope you had a wonderful time.
I relate to what you are asking, as my wife's male relatives had Prostrate Cancer at 66 and 68 and she was concerned as her Dad's Mother and his Sister had Breast Cancer age 50 had a Mastectomy + years on Tamoxifen and it returned in same area at age 63.
My wife was told she had Breast Cancer following her very first Mammogram and had Surgery and Rads, which was a shock, she had a fear that like her Aunt, it would return, and it did but in her other Breast exactly 13 years later like her Aunt.
She discussed with her Cancer Team both her male relatives Prostrate Cancer and her Female Relatives' Breast Cancer (as we have Sons and a Daughter plus Grandchildren), and she was advised by Oncologist Consultant that the concensus of opinion amongst Academic Researchers is that if BOTH Prostrate Cancer and Breast Cancer are Hormone related then yes they are likely to be a result of Genetics, but it is still very early days in their Studies. He advised that our Sons and Daughter should have regular PSA Tests and Smear Tests to find ANYTHING at an early stage.
May not be exactly what you want to hear but with regular self testing and Smear Tests each year at least you can keep yourself as safe as possible rather than trying to brush it under the carpet.
My wife and I have BOTH been diagnosed with Cancer, she with Breast Ca. And myself with Prostrate Ca. You couldn't make it up!
Scott
User
Hi Lyn
I tried to drop you a message but it said your inbox was full.
User
Ah, sorry Stargazing - I don't do PMs. I think it is really important that conversations are held openly so that any errors, misunderstanding or bias can be picked up and corrected by other members.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
That’s ok. Just you were a lot of help before.
I was just going to ask: I can’t compare my history to Scott’s wife’s, can I? I mean, I can’t just assume they’d be breast cancer in my family if they’d been more females?
User
No, you can't (and mustn't) assume that these female relatives would have had cancer if they had existed - you would drive yourself round the bend if you thought about all the possible genetic faults that you may have inherited and just don't know about. As I said to you before, your dad & uncle's history isn't strongly suggestive of a gene fault and you & your sister have made it to your 40s without getting early onset breast or uterine / ovarian cancer. The point is to be aware of the small possibility and get checked regularly but that would apply anyway just because breast cancer is so common. My family has a brain tumour gene so, being aware of that, I would see the GP and ask for a referral if I had any symptoms.
Edited by member 16 Feb 2023 at 19:22
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"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
Hi Stargazing
Sorry I did try to find out how to reply to your private question but I was unable to.
As Lyn has said, if worried talk with your GP; plus regularly check yourself
I think worrying about what may/may not happen is a waste of precious time, just do what my wife does and wrings as much joy out of each day as she can; sings out loudly to piped music played in the Supermarket particularly 60/70s music; dancing when the mood takes her. Her joy at life is infectious and she cheers up many.
Scott