Will my father's prostate cancer affect my hormonal health?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am reaching out on behalf of my father, who is 67 and has advanced prostate cancer. However, I have started worrying if there is any hereditary or hormonal link that could affect me as his daughter. Does prostate cancer in a male relative increase my risk for breast or ovarian cancer? Should I consider genetic testing for BRCA or other mutations?

Also, my mother went through menopause early, and I am 38 now with irregular periods. Could this be a sign of hormonal imbalance or cancer risk? If genetic mutations are found, will that affect my options for conception or pregnancy later? Are there preventive steps, such as hormone regulation or lifestyle changes, that could lower my risk?

I just want to understand how my father’s diagnosis might impact my long-term reproductive and hormonal health.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Yes, prostate cancer does have a genetic predisposition. There are some germline mutations, like BRCA (breast cancer gene), ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated), and PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2), which are also associated with breast and ovarian cancer.

Mutations in MLH1 (mutL homolog 1), MSH2 (mutS homolog 2), MSH6 (mutS homolog 6), and PMS2 (Lynch syndrome genes) can increase the risk of uterine and colon cancer as well. The ideal approach would be for your father to undergo genetic testing first. If a mutation is found, you could also be tested for that specific mutation (or a broader germline cancer panel).

For irregular bleeding, there can be many causes that warrant investigation. It would be appropriate to get a hormonal profile and an ultrasound for that. If a father has a gene change (mutation), he can pass this gene change to his children. Each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene change from the parent.

Having this inherited gene change means that you have a higher risk of getting certain cancers, but it does not guarantee you will get cancer. For cancer to actually develop, other changes in the body’s cells, caused by things like aging or the environment, usually also need to happen over time. So, not everyone with the gene change will develop cancer. Its main implication is in formulating a screening protocol so that if it occurs, it can be diagnosed at an earlier stage.

Yes, some steps can lower hereditary cancer risk:

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

2. Regular screening: to catch cancer at an early, more treatable stage.

I hope this information will help you.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.