BRCA1 and cancer risks for men

A BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation causes a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women. The cancer risks for men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are much smaller. In fact, men with a BRCA1 mutation are likely to have a similar risk of cancer as other men in the general population.

A man with a BRCA1 mutation does not have a high cancer risk, but it is important to remember the mutation can be passed on to children. If a man with a BRCA1 mutation has a daughter and the mutation passes to her, her cancer risks are much higher.