Is my mum going to die too?!


Question: Is my mum going to die too?
My Nan recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. It was a horrible time for me and my family as we were all very close to her. However things were made wore when soon after my great aunt (my Nan's sister) was also diagnosed with the same disease and is now terminal. My other great-aunt has gone for a scan to check she has not got the same disease. So far we have not had the results.

There is no family link with pancreatic cancer and as far as doctors know it is not contagious. However the timings have left me worried as my Aunt went for the scan a couple of days after my Nan's funeral only to be diagnosed with the same disease. This has left me worried, I don't want the same thing to happen to my mum. Should I try to convince her to also get the scan for it? If so how do I convince her without upsetting her as she has been quite delicate since my Nan's death, I don't want to upset her.

Please help me I don't know what to do!

Answers:

Cancer is not contagious. And there isn't a lot of medical evidence to suggest it can be inherited. However, certain types of cancers seem to run in families because if one person of your immediate family is diagnosed, your chances of having the same type of cancer goes up significantly. Example: My grandmother died of breast cancer, my mother has has some tumors removed, so now my sister and I are at a much greater risk of having breast cancer ourselves. That just seems to be how it goes, mostly because having certain genetic markers make people more susceptible to certain types of illnesses. And genetic markers ARE inherited. So, for that simple fact, your mother should go get checked out. If she is found to have pancreatic cancer, while it is an EXTREMELY hard cancer to treat, it can be cured if caught soon enough. If not caught quickly, pancreatic cancer metastasizes at a very rapid rate, and so is very difficult to treat even with radiation and chemo. I am not trying to upset you, but these reasons are more than enough to get tested. Maybe she will understand the severity of the situation if you explain these things to her. Good luck and my condolences for your family.

medical occupation/ training



I can understand you being worried. and i am very sorry to hear about your loss.

Try not to panic as you doctor said - its not a hereditary disease. But if your mum is worried, then i would advise that the whole family get scanned for his disease, not just your mum. But you too... this way , everyone can rest their minds over any worry that they may have it



im sorry for the rough time you are going through.

unfortunately many cancers may run in the family. there are many genetic mutations which can be inheritied. these mutations can cause cancer.

i know it will be difficult, but if your mother has any signs or symptoms at all, she should go for genetic screening for this type of cancer.

all the best

medical student



first of all i am very sorry about ur nan dont worry pancreatccancer is not contagious but if ur nan had cancer during her pregnancy it could have affected ur aunt and mom tell ur mom that cancer can be cured when its in its early stages through radiations and treatments covince her by telling her how much u love her and that u suggest her to go for a scan
again im sorry about ur aunt
hope u convince ur mom
good luck



Hopefully not try and stay positive you have a very negative state of mind right now and its not healthy.



Everybody dies.



TLDR, yes she will




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