2% of the Israeli population carries the mutated gene (higher than other ethnic groups). Israeli women with a family history of multiple malignancies, especially breast and ovarian cancer, are routinely offered the BRCA gene test at Rabin Medical Center.
About 6 prostate cancer cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis is about 66.
Just 20% of all ovarian cancer cases are discovered in the early stages. That's partially because the ovaries are located so deep within the body, but it's also because women often don't recognize the symptoms.
Most ovarian cancers are not inherited. However, about 5 percent to 10 percent of ovarian cancers do run in families. Generally, the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as the number of family members affected by ovarian cancer increases.
In the 1970s, breast cancer lifetime risk was one in 11 — compared to today’s one in eight. The good news is part of the reason is due to longer life expectancy and more detection through screening.
Once a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, the aggressiveness of the cancer is determined using a tool called the Gleason Scale. Prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 6 or less is considered low risk, 7 is intermediate and 8 to 10 is high risk.