Odds of getting cancer when both parents and multiple other family members have been diagnosed with cancer?

Question

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at forty four years old, 17 years ago and still fighting. Her and my (older) sister had the BRCA test done and the results were negative but we all know that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

My dad was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of cancer, thymic carcinoma, which accounts for approximately .2% of all diagnoses per year. Unfortunately, it was discovered too late and he passed within 3 months of being diagnosed.

My mom's mom and sister both died from cancer (different types) as well as my dad's dad and his multiple siblings (again, all different types).

In cases where cancer is so prevalent in the family history, what are the statistics of a diagnosis in my future?

lo_mcg · Answer

Both my parents had cancer too. So did 2 of my grandparents, my aunt,  uncle and two cousins. Of these, only my dad survived.

No members of my family are considered at increased risk of any of the cancers they had.

Why not? Because hereditary cancer is rare; fewer than 10% of all cancer cases are hereditary.

A sign that cancer MIGHT (only might) be hereditary within a family is where several members of the same side of that family (that is, related to each other) have had the SAME TYPE of cancer, especially if some were diagnosed at a younger than usual age.

From the information you give, this is not the case in your family. Several members of your family, most of them 2nd or 3rd-degree relatives and some of them uunrelated to each other, have had different types of cancer.

As yourmother's breast cancer was not hereditary, you are at no known increased risk of it, though as a precaution your routine mammograms should start when you are 10 years younger than she was at diagnosis

Tarkarri · Answer

Sounds like your risk is about average.

4 of 6 siblings in my family have had cancer (so far successfully treated). The remaining 2 choose to take that as improving their odds of staying cancer free.

Anonymous · Answer

Cancer isn't very genetic at all. A very little number of cancer cases are because of genetics, so your odds aren't very strong. You may be a little riskier than others, but you shouldn't worry about it unless you actually get cancer.

april · Answer

I knew a woman in that same situation, unrelated nonhereditary. Just luck of the draw. Discuss this situation with your dr. He should advice to start screenings early.

Trending News

Odds of getting cancer when both parents and multiple other family members have been diagnosed with cancer?

4 Answers