can cancer be transferred by family generations?

Question

my grandad has a deadly cancer. Could i have cancer (transferred by generation)?

Answer 1

Certain types of cancer are hereditary, but that doesn't mean to say that you'll get them.

Answer 2

Cancer is not a communicable (transferable) disease. You can't spread it like you would a cold or flu virus. There is no way you can "catch" cancer by being around him.

Cancer is a genetic and environmental disease. You can expose yourself to certain toxins (like smoke, nuclear waste, poisons, etc) that could damage your cells in such a way as to cause cancer, just as good nutrition will cause your cells to grow in a healthy way. That's all cancer is - cells growing in a weird and unhealthy way.

If it's a genetic cancer, then yes, you might be at risk to develop the same cancer later on, just as you might be likely to be tall if your grandparents were tall. But genetics are complicated, so it's not certain that you will inherit any specific trait from your granddad. Ask your parents if cancer runs in your family, and how likely you are to get it. They can explain the situation and calm your fears much better than we can.

Answer 3

Not necessarily. Cancer's can be genetic but I wouldn't worry too much about it. You probably haven't got it so live your life to the full, as I'm sure that's what your Grandad would want you to do and don't worry. What will be will be in time,but for now your'e probably fit and healthy and let's hope you stay that way for many years to come.

Hope this helps and have a nice, healthy life! Sorry about your Grandad though, I've just lost my Mum to metastes cancer. She wouldn't want me to worry about it though and would tell me to live my life to the full.

Answer 4

Most cancers occur due to a combination of both genes and environment. Some forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, are mostly due to environmental factors (i.e., smoking).

While all cancers are genetic, not all cancers are inherited. All cancer cells have mutations in their DNA. It is these mutations that cause a once "normal" cell to behave like a cancer cell--one that grows and divides quickly and does not respond to normal checks on cell growth.

Somatic mutations are mutations that only occur within the tumor itself. Somatic mutations cannot be passed down from a parent to a child.

Germline mutations are mutations that are found in the egg cells of a woman or the sperm cells of a man. Germline mutations can be passed down from a parent to a child. Therefore, only those mutations that are present in the eggs or sperm can be passed down through a family.

In some families with a very strong history of cancer, there may be a germline mutation that is being passed down through the family. These families usually have some features that are "red flags" or clues that there may be a cancer gene in the family. These red flags include:

Many family members with cancer in several generations (an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance)
An early age at onset of cancer (younger than age 50)
A clustering of certain types of cancer, such as breast and ovarian cancer, or colon and uterine cancer
Multiple primary cancers in one person--for example, a woman with both breast cancer and ovarian cancer that occur as separate events. This does not include a cancer that starts in one organ and spreads to another
The presence of rare cancers, such as male breast cancer in a BRCA2 gene carrier
Families who meet some or all of these criteria may benefit from meeting with a genetic counselor and/or a geneticist to discuss their family history.

Answer 5

Cancer is a disease that affects families but not everyone is going to show symptoms My mother,her sister and two of the three brothers have all been unlucky, i also have it but not my sister Strange really because my sister smokes and drinks like this is the last day,i have done neither.This only tells me that some things act as triggers.but we dont know our individual triggers.But i can say please dont worry about it Stay Lucky

Answer 6

we can all have cancer..... it all depends on this thing called the trigger factor...... some chemicals can abnormalized those normal cells..... so it is better to eat wisely..... and believe in lycopene, vitamin c.... or any antioxidants.

but then when the head of your generation has it.... you are most likely to have it.... because abnormalities in cells has a big chance of being transferred by a family member.

try to have a healthy lifestyle..... because the more you do the greater the chance of reducing the possibilities of having cancer.

but then now adays it's hard to tell if the fruits we eat are pesticide free.... and most of us loves to munch on processed foods...... it's a world of instant food now.... and it means preservatives........ it's about being on the safe side wether you will have cancer or not in the future.

Answer 7

it can be possible, my grandmas sister had leukaemia and died young, my mum died from leukaemia, my aunt died from breast cancer, and my sister keeps getting lumps in her breasts we were tested and it was said that we are more likely to develop some sort of cancer, but having said that there is no point spending your life worrying that you will develop cancer, if it happens then deal with it then, live your life i believe if it is going to happen then there is nothing you can do, tearing yourself apart is going to do you no good, i am really sorry your grandad is sick and i hope that you never have to go through it yourself, but if your worried see your GP and see if you can get tested but please don't waste your life waiting for it to happen life is too short, best of luck honey, hope you stay well, big hugs to you.

Answer 8

Yes, but only as a genetic pre-disposition, and not like, for example AIDS or syphillis, where the ACTUAL disease is transferred to the embryo in vitro. You can only inherit a tendency, and this is also not certain to happen.

Answer 9

Yes Certain cancers have a genetic predisposition. You may want to have pre pregnancy counseling in order to choose not to have children ( since they would also have that gene)

Answer 10

yes it may be possible...genetically, you have a higher chance and a tendency to develop that cancer even if you try everything you can to prevent it...but you may not develop it either...just take care of your body and health as much as possible