Does Leukemia run in Families?!
Question: I really need to know how likely it is that one of my kids
could get leukemia?My niece died from leukemia and her
Dad didn't know she had it until it was to late.My sister is
my half sister(same Dad) so it might be from her moms side or from
my niece's fathers side.I worry because mt Dad was
adopted and we have no way of knowing his families health.
problems.
Answers: I really need to know how likely it is that one of my kids
could get leukemia?My niece died from leukemia and her
Dad didn't know she had it until it was to late.My sister is
my half sister(same Dad) so it might be from her moms side or from
my niece's fathers side.I worry because mt Dad was
adopted and we have no way of knowing his families health.
problems.
There is a familial link in some types of leukaemia, the chromosomal abnormality is called the Philidelphia chromosome. There is also a gene called the BCR-ABL. That does not mean that all leukaemias are hereditary, just a couple out of many many different types.
Anything can run in the family. It's called heredity. It could be diseases, bad teeth, etc. Your child could possibly get it. I hope your child doesn't, I wish for the best with your family.
Causes
Although researchers have studied the many cellular changes associated with leukemia, it is unknown why these changes occur. It is likely that certain risk factors are involved. Many factors (e.g., age, genetics) are unmodifiable (beyond control). Other factors (e.g., environmental, lifestyle-related variables) are more controllable (modifiable).
I believe the answer is no. My aunt has cancer and nobody in our immediate family(sister, mother, grandmother, grandfather, etc) has it.