Awareness needed of paternal family history of breast cancer

25 October 2010

Research published in Lancet Oncology suggests greater awareness of a paternal family history of breast cancer could save lives.

According to Jeanna McCuaig from the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada and colleagues, most health-care providers know of the increased breast and ovarian cancer risk in women with this gene mutation, but “many remain unaware that these women might have inherited the mutated gene from their father…and might not routinely collect this information from their patients.” Moreover, a history of cancer on the father’s side may not be as well reported by patients because they do not know it is a risk factor for cancer.

Dr Caitlin Palframan, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "We know a family history on the father's side is sometimes overlooked as a breast cancer risk factor, but faulty genes can be inherited from the father, as well as the mother. However, this is unusual as only around 1 in 20 of all breast cancers are due to inherited faults in known genes.

"A family history means having an unusually high number of close relatives with breast cancer on one side of the family. Anyone concerned about breast cancer in their family should speak to their doctor."

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