In-laws’ cancer history worries mom

Dear Dr. Roach: I am concerned that my 33-year-old daughter will have breast cancer. I have no history in my family of breast cancer, but my husband’s grandmother, mother and sister all have had breast cancer with double mastectomies. I have heard that the DNA follows the mother’s side and not the father’s. Is this true or an old wives’ tale? Should she have a BRCA test?

D.C.

Answer: Most cases of breast cancer are sporadic, meaning there is no particular identifiable family risk to develop breast cancer. However, there are identified genetic risks, especially including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants.

The family history you’ve given is probably not enough to recommend gene testing (unless there are other factors, such as an Ashkenazi Jewish background). Ideally, the person who had the cancer (breast, ovarian, pancreas, and prostate cancers all are affected by BRCA genes) should get tested, not only for BRCA1/2, but other newly identified genetic susceptibility genes.

The best advice on whether testing for your daughter is appropriate would come from a genetic counselor.

Dear Dr. Roach: Are studies that suggest eating prunes daily might delay or prevent osteoporosis for postmenopausal women valid? Thanks.

M.S.

Answer: There are several studies that suggested eating prunes may have benefits on the bones. In some studies, women ate 4 ounces of prunes daily (the control group got dried apples), and blood tests suggested less bone turnover. Bone density studies suggested some benefit or at least slowing of decline among women eating prunes compared with the control group. The duration of the studies was in months — quite short, as two years is often needed to see benefits in the bone, which changes slowly.

These sorts of studies would never be acceptable for new medications to treat osteoporosis, which would require significant improvements in bone strength. However, compared against the currently available osteoporosis treatments, which have the potential for serious complications, prunes are very safe.