We know the risk of females developing breast cancer in their lifetime is statistically 1 in 8 and those with a significant family history on the maternal or paternal side have a higher risk. In addition, those who carry a gene mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a significantly high risk of developing breast cancer, as well as other cancers. BRCA1 has a markedly increased risk for developing ovarian cancer and BRCA2 increases the risk of getting ovarian, pancreatic, melanoma, and prostate cancer developing in men at a younger age. If a male is carrying a gene mutation, usually the BRCA2 gene mutation, he would only have about a 6% risk of getting breast cancer.
