Fathers and breast cancer

Breast cancer is a huge issue facing women in our society (and some men as well). While all women are encouraged to do self exams, etc, many women feel that if it didn't run in their family, they're not at risk. Looks like it's time to think again...

deadly gene's path can hide in a family tree when a woman has few aunts and older sisters, making it appear that her breast cancer struck out of nowhere when it really came from Dad.

A new study suggests thousands of young women with breast cancer — an estimated 8,000 a year in the U.S. — aren't offered testing to identify faulty genes and clarify their medical decisions.

Guidelines used by insurance companies to decide coverage for genetic testing should change to reflect the findings, said study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Weitzel of City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. Testing can cost more than $3,000.

"Interestingly, it's about Dad," Weitzel said. Half of genetic breast cancers are inherited from a woman's father, not her mother. But unless Dad has female relatives with breast cancer, the faulty gene may have been passed down silently, without causing cancer. (Men can get genetic breast cancer, too, but it's not common.)

Weitzel said doctors often overlook the genetic risk from the father's side of the family.

So regardless of whether or not you *think* breast cancer runs in your family, I implore you to be vigilant about your self exams, and to make sure, regardless of your sexuality, that you see you gynocologist regularly.

Essin' Em

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