A 38-year-old BRCA2 mutation carrier has a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy after treatment for stage II left breast cancer. Genetic counselling reveals her sister is also BRCA2-positive. Which of the following cancers carries the highest lifetime risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers compared to the general population?

• A Ovarian cancer
• B Prostate cancer
• C Pancreatic cancer
• D Male breast cancer ✓

Explanation

BRCA2 carriers have up to 6-7% lifetime risk of male breast cancer, representing a risk increase of approximately 80-100-fold above the general male population, making it the most dramatically elevated relative risk. Ovarian cancer risk is elevated more in BRCA1 (40-60%) than BRCA2 (10-27%). Pancreatic and prostate cancers are also elevated in BRCA2, but the relative risk increase for male breast cancer is proportionally the largest.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.