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Men unaware of their risk of Cancer when
female family members test positive for
Cancer-causing gene mutation
Newswise — Men whose mothers, sisters or daughters test
positive for a cancer-causing gene mutation
also have an increased risk of developing
the disease but are unaware of that risk.
That is the conclusion of a study at Fox
Chase Cancer Center exploring how families
communicate genetic test results.
Like their female relatives, fathers, sons or brothers can
also harbor a mutation in the BRCA 1 or 2
genes. Male carriers of these mutations,
more commonly called the “breast cancer
genes,” face a 14 percent lifetime risk of
developing prostate cancer as well as a 6
percent lifetime risk of developing breast
cancer
“Despite these health implications, we have
found a lack of understanding of genetic
test results among men in these families,”
said Mary B. Daly, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice
president for population science at Fox
Chase and lead author of the new research
presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium today.
Daly and her colleagues interviewed 24 men, each with a
first-degree female relative who tested
positive for having a BRCA1 or BRCA2
mutation. The women reported telling the
results of their genetic test result to the
male relative in the study, though only 18
of the men remember receiving the results.
Daly said what they learned demonstrates a level of cognitive
and emotional distance that men experience
from the genetic testing process.
Nearly half of the men (seven) who remembered receiving
results did not believe that the test
results increased their own risk of cancer.
Only five (28 percent) could correctly
identify their chance of being a mutation
carrier.
“We devote a significant amount of time learning how best to
communicate genetic test results to women,
but this study shows we also need to help
them communicate the information to their
male family members who may be impacted by
the test results,” concluded Daly.
Fourteen of the 18 men who recalled receiving the results
expressed some level of concern about the
meaning of the test result, but most (11)
directed their concern toward other family
members, primarily daughters and sisters.
“Based on the responses, we were not surprised to learn that
the level of interest in genetic testing was
relatively low. Of the six men who did
express interest, half said they’d do it for
their children’s sake.”
Fox Chase Cancer Center was founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as
the nation’s first cancer hospital. In 1974,
Fox Chase became one of the first
institutions designated as a National Cancer
Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fox
Chase conducts basic, clinical, population
and translational research; programs of
cancer prevention, detection and treatment;
and community outreach. For more information
about Fox Chase activities, visit the
Center’s web site at
http://www.fccc.edu or call 1-888-FOX CHASE.
