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.
All men with breast cancer meet national guidelines for genetic counseling and/or testing, regardless of your age at diagnosis. If you are a man who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, a genetics expert can determine whether your cancer is due to an inherited mutation.
Male breast cancer survivors who had a negative genetic test before 2014 should speak with a genetic counselor to see if additional testing is right for them. Genetic testing has improved since then and new tests can find mutations that were previously missed by older tests.
Genetic test results may provide you and your family with additional health information and help you make medical decisions. Test results may:
affect your breast cancer treatment decisions. For men with metastatic breast cancer, genetic testing can determine if you may benefit from a drug called Lynparza, which is FDA approved for treating advanced breast cancer in people with a BRCA mutation
affect eligibility for certain clinical trials and research studies.
The following gene mutations have been linked with an increased risk for male breast cancer. Each gene has slightly different cancer risks and recommendations. You should speak with a genetics expert before and after genetic testing to understand which test to order and what your results mean for you and your family.
If you are a male breast cancer survivor making decisions about genetic testing, you may want additional guidance or support. FORCE's Peer Navigation Program provides expert reviewed resources and 1:1 personalized peer support by specially trained volunteers who have experienced the very challenges you face.