Is any kind of cancer hereditary?!
Question: Is any kind of cancer hereditary!?
Answers:
Cancer is rarely hereditary - fewer than 10% of all cancer cases are hereditary!.
An indication that cancer may be hereditary and due to an inherited faulty gene is that several members of the same side of the family have had the same type of cancer, especially if some developed it at an early age!. In that case the cancer may well be due to an inherited faulty gene!.
In the case of breast cancer, for example, two rare faulty genes have so far been identified as responsible for hereditary breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2!. Only 5 - 10% of all breast cancer cases are hereditary!. If someone carries one of the faulty genes, each of their children has a 50% chance of inheriting it, and if they inherit it a 50 - 80% chance of getting breast cancer!.
But, as I said, these genes are rare!. Over 90% of cancer cases - all types - are not hereditary!.
An isolated case of a cancer in a family is not hereditary; and several members of the same family having different cancers doesn't mean cancer runs in the family!. One in three people will get cancer - it's not unusual to have several members of the same family who have had non-hereditary cancer!.
Cancer that develops after the age of 50 is less likely to be hereditary!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
An indication that cancer may be hereditary and due to an inherited faulty gene is that several members of the same side of the family have had the same type of cancer, especially if some developed it at an early age!. In that case the cancer may well be due to an inherited faulty gene!.
In the case of breast cancer, for example, two rare faulty genes have so far been identified as responsible for hereditary breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2!. Only 5 - 10% of all breast cancer cases are hereditary!. If someone carries one of the faulty genes, each of their children has a 50% chance of inheriting it, and if they inherit it a 50 - 80% chance of getting breast cancer!.
But, as I said, these genes are rare!. Over 90% of cancer cases - all types - are not hereditary!.
An isolated case of a cancer in a family is not hereditary; and several members of the same family having different cancers doesn't mean cancer runs in the family!. One in three people will get cancer - it's not unusual to have several members of the same family who have had non-hereditary cancer!.
Cancer that develops after the age of 50 is less likely to be hereditary!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Many cancers are thought to have a hereditary (or genetic) component!. The two most common ones (and the ones receiving the most media attention) are breast & colon cancer!.
Breast cancer genetics currently focus on certain genes that may be targeted in screening - a couple of genes in particular have now been shown to confer significantly increased risk!.
Colorectal cancer genetic conditions are relatively well known - there are the entities of Hereditary Polyposis Coli (HPC), and Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC)!. Both conditions confer highly increased risk of developing colon cancer!.
Many other cancers have more subtle patterns of hereditary transmission!. There is still much to be uncovered in these areas!.
NB!. There is no convincing evidence thus far of a hereditary component to Lung Cancer!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Breast cancer genetics currently focus on certain genes that may be targeted in screening - a couple of genes in particular have now been shown to confer significantly increased risk!.
Colorectal cancer genetic conditions are relatively well known - there are the entities of Hereditary Polyposis Coli (HPC), and Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC)!. Both conditions confer highly increased risk of developing colon cancer!.
Many other cancers have more subtle patterns of hereditary transmission!. There is still much to be uncovered in these areas!.
NB!. There is no convincing evidence thus far of a hereditary component to Lung Cancer!.Www@Answer-Health@Com