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Cancer is primarily a genetic disease, which means that it's caused by mutations in DNA. These mutations can be inherited (i.e. passed from father or mother to their offspring), or they can occur randomly (as a result of everyday assault to our DNA by things like free radicals). If your parents have cancer, it means that you most likely have an increased predisposition towards the same type of cancer. Genetic testing can be done for some types of cancer (such as breast cancer) to determine if a woman's lifetime risk is particularly high.
Basically, if one or both of your parents have cancer, or if it runs in your family, the best thing you can do is be vigilant -- eat healthy, don't smoke, exercise, and get regular checkups.
Screening is incredibly important, since most cancers, if caught at an early stage, are curable!

2006-07-27 07:30:06 · answer #1 · answered by chrissyberry 3 · 0 0

Actally some cancers have a genetic link which makes them hereditary. That's why if you have a family history of breast ca you have to have your screenings more often and at an earlier age than an average woman would. The same for prostate ca. That doesn't mean you will definately get it, only that you are at a higher risk. Other cancers can be caused by toxins such as lung ca from smoking. If your father had lung ca from smoking and you do not smoke( and hopefully have not sucked down a lot of second hand smoke) you will not get that type of ca. They are finding ca markers that can be identified in the blood. The markers don't prove you will definately get ca but that youhave a very high chance. That is why some women who have a certain Breast ca marker in their blood have elected to have their breasts removed before ca is even detected to increase their survival rates. So yes it can be hereditary, you can be just a carrier and there's no definate way to tell if you will develop it just because a parent had it.

2006-07-27 17:53:55 · answer #2 · answered by tbo 3 · 0 0

Most physicians seem to think that the mother is the host and transfers the genes of disease to the offspring.

But such is probably unknown as fact, so be carefuls, have regualr check ups and hope for the best

2006-07-27 14:26:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

There is some evidence that cancer is hereditary. I volunteered in a cancer lab where we were trying to isolate a breast cancer gene

2006-07-27 19:09:14 · answer #4 · answered by christigmc 5 · 0 0

It moer in teh genetice than anything if it runs in the family there is a 50 % more chance for a family member to have cancer than if it dosen't.
http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/genetics_center/louisiana/article_cancer.htm
Maybe this can help you.

2006-07-27 17:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by life as we know it 4 · 0 0

No, cancer is not hereditary; however, the likelihood of developing cancer seems to have a strong hereditary link.

2006-07-27 14:26:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

it can be
breast cancer usually affects women without a cancer familiy history

2006-07-27 14:26:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

no, not at all.

2006-07-27 14:27:05 · answer #8 · answered by comfortably numb 3 · 0 0

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