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Is cancer hereditary ?
Both my parents were diagnosed with cancer. Mom and dad passed away due to vaginal (mom) and upper oesophagus(dad) at the age of 64 and 70 respectively. I'm a mom so far with normal health had 2 normal deliveries , kids are 13.5 and 6 yrs. should I worry about cancer being hereditary ? Any specific stuff that I should be cautioned about??
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Cancer is a genetic disorder. But not all cancers are heriditary. Only 5-10% cancers are inherited. E.g: mostly the breast and gynaecological cancers. It can be inherited. Need to consult a genetic consellor and /or a physician who will take the information regarding the proband's family history and evaluate the risk.. If it is seen that the proband's(the person who's asking the question) grand mother and other family members had the same types of cancer/ related to gynaecological cancers or any other indications , Genetic testing will be recommended. Proband can be checked for Germline mutation. Depending on the syndrome and the test result, she can be further suggested for the preventive measurements. If you have inherited any genetic error responsible for cancer development, that can be tested. And under stringent surveillance we can detect cancer at early stage.Consult a Genetic counselor to analyse your risk. Depending on your family history, you can be suggested for genetic testing.
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.