Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2026: Why your mom's cancer history could be a hidden risk factor for prostate cancer?

Understanding your mother's cancer history is crucial in assessing prostate cancer risk. Learn how genetic factors influence screening and treatment decisions.

Published on: Sep 30, 2026, 11:01:00 IST

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When a man discusses prostate cancer risk, he may mention an affected father, brother, or uncle. However, his mother’s ovarian cancer or his sister’s breast cancer may seem unrelated. Yet these diagnoses can point to an inherited susceptibility that matters to him too. Certain inherited changes in genes such as BRCA2 increase the risk of prostate cancer along with other cancers. They can come from either parent.

Looking only at male relatives or the father’s side of the family can therefore leave important gaps in a family’s medical history. "Identifying inherited cancer mutations can influence treatment and screening and guide the medical attention relatives need", Dr Thangarajan Rajkumar, Director of Research Oncology, MedGenome Labs Ltd, tells Health Shots. Genetic counseling helps establish who needs testing and what the findings mean.

Who should consider genetic counseling?

• If multiple relatives have been affected by prostate, breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancers, men should consider discussing family history with their doctor. These patterns do not prove an inherited mutation.
• Still, a qualified oncologist or genetic counselor can review the cancer types, ages of diagnosis, and relationships between affected relatives to guide whether monitoring or medical intervention is required.
• Family history is not the only consideration. Men with metastatic prostate cancer should be offered germline testing even without a known family history. Some men with high-risk localized disease may also qualify.

What genetic testing can and cannot genetic testing tell you?

• Germline testing, usually performed using blood or saliva, looks for inherited gene changes that may increase cancer risk. Tumor testing goes a step further by examining genetic changes within the cancer itself, which may help guide treatment.
• A genetic finding in a tumor does not automatically mean the mutation is inherited or that relatives share the same risk; separate germline testing may therefore be needed.
• Before testing, the oncologist or the genetic counselor can explain the possible results, costs, privacy considerations, and potential implications for relatives. After testing, counseling can also help patients understand what their results mean and how they may affect their care or family members.

Can a mutated gene go back to normal?

The meaning of a genetic result depends on the type of finding. A pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant is a gene change known to increase cancer risk, but having one does not mean that cancer is inevitable. Conversely, a negative result may not fully explain a strong family history of cancer. A variant of uncertain significance (VUS) means there is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether the change affects cancer risk. A VUS should not, on its own, change treatment or guide predictive testing in relatives.

How can results change care?

Men with a pathogenic BRCA2 variant are generally advised to discuss PSA-based prostate cancer screening from around age 40. Screening frequency should be individualized based on personal and family history. Since PSA is not specific to cancer, an elevated result requires further evaluation and does not, by itself, mean cancer is present.

For some people with advanced cancer, specific genetic alterations may help guide treatment decisions, including the use of PARP inhibitors. Eligibility depends on the specific genetic alteration and the clinical setting. A confirmed inherited genetic variant can offer more than answers for one person. It allows families to understand their genetic risk, make informed decisions, and take early action.

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)

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