Cancer is a complex disease with numerous contributing factors.

While some cases seem random, a familial link can be observed in a significant portion of the population.

Have you seen frequent cancer cases in a family and wondered why and how that happens?

This blog post dives into the reasons why some families experience higher rates of cancer.

Understanding Cancer in the Family

Cancer risk can be passed down in two main ways.

Genetic mutations are changes in genes that can make you more likely to get certain types of cancer. Some famous examples are BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

Families usually live in the same places and have the same habits that can affect their chances of getting cancer. These could be things like what you eat, how much you exercise, if you're around things that can cause cancer, or even how much money you have.

Knowing About Your Family's Past Can Help You In Many Ways

Finding out early: If you know your family's past health, doctors can suggest tests and check-ups for you. This can help find any health problems sooner, when treatment can work better.

Genetic testing can find out if someone has mutations that make them likely to get a certain type of cancer. If there are mutations, it can help people take steps to prevent cancer.

Ways to Lower Your Cancer Risk: You can work with your doctor to make personalized plans like changing your lifestyle or taking medication to reduce your chances of getting cancer, based on your family history and genes.

Helping Your Family Stay Healthy and Strong

By knowing if cancer runs in your family and talking about it with your doctor, you can take steps to prevent and find cancer early. Here are some helpful suggestions:

Learn about your family's medical history: Ask your relatives about when they got cancer and how old they were when it happened.

Tell your doctor about your family's health history. This will help them understand your risk for certain health problems and give you the best advice for your care.

We should encourage our family members who are at high risk to get genetic testing. This can help them take charge of their health.

Cancer runs in the family

Most people whose family members have cancer do not have a gene that causes cancer. Cancer mostly happens in older people. It is a widespread illness.

50% of people born in the UK after 1960 will be told they have cancer at some point in their life. So, in many families, there is someone who has or had cancer.

Just because a few family members have been diagnosed with cancer doesn't mean there's a gene that causes cancer in the family.

In families with a gene that doesn't work right, there is often a specific kind of cancer that many family members get. How strong your family history is, depends on:

• Which relatives in your family have had cancer?
• the kinds of cancer they had
• How old were they when the doctor found out they were sick.
• How close are the family members who have cancer to each other?

If many family members had similar or related cancers, and were diagnosed at a young age, then the family's history of cancer is stronger.

This means that it is more probable that the cancers are happening because of a gene that is not working properly and was passed down in the family.

Types of Family Cancer

A small number of families have an increased risk of certain cancers due to a change in their genes or inherited disorders. There are several types of family cancer outlined in the information below.

• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
• Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
• Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
• Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2)
• Von Hippel Lindau syndrome (VHL)
• Retinoblastoma
• Melanoma
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)

What Is The Process of Genetic Counselling and Testing?

If your family's health history shows that you might be more likely to get cancer, your doctor can send you to a genetic counsellor. A genetic counsellor is a special doctor who talks to you about your health and your family's health. They help you figure out if genetic testing could be helpful for you. A genetic test uses your spit or blood to check your genetic code. The test looks for changes in the DNA, which are sometimes called mutations. It can tell you if you are more likely to get cancer than other people.

FAQ:

1. Should I get tested for genetic mutations? Discuss this with your doctor, especially if you have a strong family history of specific cancers.

2. What if I test positive for a gene mutation? This doesn't mean you will develop cancer, but it allows for increased monitoring and preventive measures.

3. How can I reduce my cancer risk? Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, and get recommended cancer screenings.