Thinking about cancer or dealing with cancer risk can be scary or overwhelming, but we believe that receiving information and resources is comforting, empowering, and lifesaving.
Men with inherited mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and possibly CHEK2, ATM and other genes are at increased risk for prostate cancer. Although mutations in several genes can increase prostate cancer risk, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carry the greatest risk for diagnosis.
It is important that men with an inherited mutation associated with increased prostate cancer risk let their health care providers know because this could change prostate cancer screening recommendations.
Recently, researchers found that approximately 10% of men with hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer had inherited mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, or others genes that are associated with increased cancer risk. As a result, national guidelines now recommend genetic counseling and testing for all men with metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed at any age to determine whether or not they have a genetic mutation.
BRCA-related prostate cancer is associated with a more aggressive form of the disease and may result in higher death rates. Treatment for BRCA-related prostate cancer may also be different than treatment for men who do not have a mutation.
Updated 12/26/2017