is cancer hereditary?

Question

MY sister has breast, another has cervical, my mother had throat, my father had lung, some people in my family have brain, its all over.

Answer 1

A hereditary disease is a disease caused by an abnormality in an individual's DNA which is inherited genetically. Although cancer is not caused by single gene inheritance like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, some types of cancer do exhibit multifactorial inheritance, which is a type of inheritance that is caused by a combination of environmental factors and mutations in multiple genes. Therefore, YES, certain types of cancer are hereditary.

Current scientific opinion is that cancer is a disease caused by mutations in DNA or changes in the way certain genes are expressed, so by its very nature, cancer can be hereditary. However, you must also understand that these mutations can be in either somatic cells (cells in your body pretty much everywhere except your reproductive organs) or they can be in both somatic and germ cells (cells which make eggs and sperm). Should the genetic abnormality which is contributing to cancer development be in germ cells, this abnormality can be passed from parent to child upon conception and is considered hereditary. Realize that everyone has some chance of developing cancer and that most cancers occur sporadically or by chance in only somatic cells. However, because hereditary cancer exhibits multifactorial inheritance, a person who has inherited such a gene mutation as described above, will not necessarily develop cancer but will have an increased risk to develop cancer in their lifetime.

There is a diverse array of the hereditary components which increase your risk to developing cancers, but types of cancer with a strong hereditary component (called familial cancers), include breast and ovarian cancers caused by inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, or colon cancer caused by familial adenomatous polyposis, which is an inherited mutation in the APC gene. Inheritance of mutations in the APC gene will lead to the development of colon cancer in more than 90% of patients by the time they are 40 and is the classic example of a hereditary cancer.-

Answer 2

Sure some will also be hereditary however no longer all and the findings to link heredity are still some what inconclusive to this state-of-the-art however clinical experts suppose that some are like breast melanoma. While you go to the doctor ask about being validated for Van Willie band this is a bleeding illness that's over regarded through a number of doctor on account that that it is quite now not well-known like hemophilia. I've this disease and having lengthy intervals that bleed alot are one of the most symptoms that you would be ready to have an additional is that if your gums bleed fairly useful whilst you brush your teeth and you have got received healthful tooth. The one rationale why I recommend that is considering the fact that 1 in three guys and women have this and do not are mindful of it unless a trauma occurs or you might have acquired surgical procedure that requires you to have blood. If in case you have this disease that means your blood must be typed the complete manner the entire way all the way down to the platelets or your physique will reject it

Answer 3

The likelihood of getting cancer is higher for those who have family members with cancer. That's why it's included on many questionnaires for doctor's offices.

My husband's father died 15 years ago with colon cancer. He had to be screened younger than most people. His first colonoscopy was 5 years ago. He did a repeat this year and will have to go back every five years. This time, they found a benign polyp.

My family tends to get skin cancer (we all have fair skin), prostate cancer (boy, am I glad I'm a woman), ovarian and uterine cancer (rats, that cancels out the prostate cancer), breast cancer and other forms of cancer. It's like my family collects illnesses. I think it's because we have so many allergies that our bodies can't fight the "real" bugs.

Everyone is at risk for cancer. But the risk is much higher if a close member of the family has or has had cancer. So make sure you do your breast self-exams monthly (easiest done in the shower), have a regular physical with a pap smear at least once a year, and alert any doctor of the other cancers that have shown up in your family. They can help you realistically view your health so that you won't be over-concerned about cancer. Basically, alert a doctor if any changes occur that scare you. It's better to be safe than sorry. And the doctor can screen you to be sure it isn't cancer.

I hope you are the exception to the rule when it comes to cancer in your family. No one should have to go through the experience (my uncle had a rare form of leukemia and was able to get a bone marrow transplant. His bills are in the millions of dollars. My great-aunts all passed away from one form of cancer or another...)

Take care. S.

Answer 4

Breast cancer:

If your sister had breast cancer, and you (God forbid) end up being diagnosed with it at some point in your life, it is probably coincidental. Most breast cancers are not related to the breast cancer gene.

"However, it is important to note that 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. Family history only includes immediate relatives: mother, sisters, and daughters. If a family member was post-menopausal (fifty or older) when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the lifetime risk is only increased 5%. If the family member was premenopausal, the lifetime risk is 18.6%. If the family member was premenopausal and had bilateral breast cancer, the lifetime risk is 50%."

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/aboutbreastcancer.faces?siteId=2&link=ctg_bcs_aboutbreastcancer_from_sponsorship_sidetabs#

"Only 5-10 % of breast and ovarian cancer is inherited, meaning the majority of women who develop breast and/or ovarian cancer do not have the genetic mutation."

http://www.breastdoc.com/My_Breast_Health/Breaking_News/Inherited_Breast_Cancer/inherited_breast_cancer.html

Cervical cancer:

Get your yearly Paps. Cervical is highly curable when found early....

"Cervical cancer may run in some families. If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are increased by 2 to 3 times. Some researchers suspect that some instances of this familial tendency are caused by an inherited condition that makes some women less able to fight off HPV infection than others. In other instances, women from the same family as a patient already diagnosed may be more likely to have one or more of the other non-genetic risk factors previously described in this section."
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_cervical_cancer_8.asp?rnav=cri

"Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. With regular Pap smears, cervical cancer can be prevented in just about all cases."

http://cancer.about.com/od/cervicalcancerbasics/a/survivalrates.htm

Throat cancer:

I am not saying your mother smokes, but smoking causes about 80% of throat cancers, so DON'T smoke!

"A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Some risk factors include: Family history and genetic predisposition"

http://www.med.nyu.edu/patientcare/library/article.html?ChunkIID=11509

Lung cancer:

Again, don't smoke!

"(HealthDay News) -- While smoking is far and away the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, having a close relative who has been diagnosed with the disease nearly doubles your risk of developing the deadly disease. A new study in the October (2007) issue of Chest found that people with a first-degree relative -- that means mother, father or sibling -- who had lung cancer had a 95 percent higher risk of developing the disease themselves."

http://myhealth.ucsd.edu/healthyliving/familyhome/sept07lung.htm

Bottom line is this...you can't change your gene make up, but you can change your lifestyle. Early detection (paps, self breast exam, screening mammography if you are age 35 or older) and smart living and choices (don't smoke or consume a lot of alcohol) can reduce your risk. Best wishes.....

Answer 5

particular some might additionally be hereditary whether not all and the findings to link heredity are nonetheless some what inconclusive to this cutting-edge whether medical doctors think of that some are like breast cancer. once you pass to the final practitioner ask approximately being examined for Van Willie band that's often a bleeding ailment it quite is over appeared with the aid of way of a huge style of physician because of the fact this is somewhat not known like hemophilia. i've got this ailment and having long durations that bleed alot are between the alerts which you would be waiting to have one extra is in the adventure that your gums bleed quite attainable once you sweep your the enamel and think ofyou've have been given healthful enamel. the only reason why I recommend that's in view that the a million in 3 women and men persons have this and don't are conscious of it till a trauma occurs or you have have been given surgical treatment that calls so which you are able to have blood. in case you have this ailment that suggests your blood must be typed the great potential each of how right down to the platelets or your physique will reject it

Answer 6

Yes it is. But you might be the lucky one in the family that does not get it. Even if it is hereditary it is not 100 percent guarantee that you will get it. Dont fret too much about it just live your life be happy and savour every moment.

Have a nice day!

Answer 7

Yes, some kinds of cancer are hereditary, but not all of them.

Answer 8

some kinds can be

but it doesnt mean u will get it
it s in my family too, so im going to get checked for it every once in a while

there are ways to see if it is hereditory or not