When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I had so many questions. How did this happen, where did it come from, why me, could I have prevented this? One of my best friends passed away from this disease, I have 2 close friends who are in remission and a cousin who continues to fight her battles! I now know definitively, that my dad is beginning his battle. He will have surgery January 10th to have his prostate removed. That best friend, her father has the same thing happen to him.
When I was diagnosed, my surgeon suggested I have genetic testing done to see if there was a risk factor in our family. We went and spoke with a counselor, gave as much family health information as possible on both sides, got swabbed and waited for results. When the results came back, I was found to have Lynch Syndrome, a gene mutation that puts me at a higher risk than the general population for breast, colon, uterine, and ovarian cancers. Was my mind even on my family genes and cancer? Absolutely not! I really thought it was arbitrary. But I soon found out there is a link between genetics and cancer, especially the link between fathers and daughters.
The link below explains further the correlation between women and breast cancer and their fathers and prostrate cancer. Please read and take any steps you can to know your status as they say.
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/prostate-cancer-related-to-bc-risk
My father and I are very close and this is just one more thing we share. We have grit, determination, and nothing can stop us!
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