Breast and ovarian cancer can be passed on by men through genes to their children

The sister of a colleague has died from ovarian cancer . The whole family is devastated by their loss, but now they’ve suffered a double whammy.

They’re reeling from the shock of learning that their beloved father had passed on a female gene which probably caused his daughter’s cancer .
They, in common with most families, were under the impression that breast and ovarian cancer genes are handed down from one ­generation to the next via the female line.
And they are – sometimes. Not only that, these cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, besides causing breast cancer are also implicated in ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer too.
Men with either of the faulty genes have a one in 10 risk of developing breast cancer themselves and a 25% risk of prostate cancer.

“It’s important to point out that half of women suffering with genetic breast cancer will have inherited it from their father,” says Gareth Evans, Professor of Medical Genetics and Cancer
Epidemiology at the University of Manchester .
What’s particularly saddening for families is that women could have taken preventative measures if they’d known these female cancers could be inherited from male relatives.
Most families don’t realise that the father’s side can raise their risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
Most women just assume that breast cancer comes down the mother’s line only.
But if these women knew about the connection with prostate cancer in their family, many women would get gene tested and maybe have a prophylactic mastectomy and their ovaries removed.
Professor Evans says it’s vital for women to understand they may inherit the faulty BRCA 1 or 2 gene from both sides of their family.

They should tell their doctor if they have a breast or ovarian cancer history in the family or any male relatives who’ve had prostate cancer, which can be associated with the faulty genes. Pancreatic cancer in a ­relative can also flag up faulty genes.
It works the other way too. Men run a risk of developing prostate cancer if there’s genetic breast cancer in the family.
Male carriers, however, can live long and healthy lives, unaware they can pass cancer genes on to the next generation.
Many cancers could be avoided if families are aware of the male link.
If a parent discovers they carry genes linked to inherited illnesses they have the responsibility to speak to their child, but only after taking advice from a genetic counsellor.