ovarian cancer and hereditary cancer

Former Member

If hereditary cancer runs in your family, is it always the same type of cancer? for example, if say a grandparent had once had lung cancer, would it be possible for you to get say ovarian cancer?

obvioulsy it would be possible for you to get it, but i mean would it be possible for you to contract cancer hereditarily, and it be a cancer of a different area of your body than that which has already been found in other family members?

if that makes any sense at all.

quick answers much appreciated

Former Member

No. Different organs have different cancers because they ahve different cells.

Though cancer can spread.

Former Member

so if someone was suspected to possibly have cancer, it wouldn't make the suspicians stronger if family members had previously suffered with cancers? the chances of it actually being cancer wouldnt be affected by family medical history? thanks

Former Member

Originally posted by badabing
so if someone was suspected to possibly have cancer, it wouldn't make the suspicians stronger if family members had previously suffered with cancers? the chances of it actually being cancer wouldnt be affected by family medical history? thanks

Cancers are linked, so a tumour would be investigated more if there was a history of cancer, but all cancers are not the same.

'Tis swings and roundabouts.

Former Member

also some cancers are 'more' hereditary than others.

say if your mother had breast cancer when she was young, and maybe an aunt and your grandmother too, then you'd be pretty likely to get it.

but then with other cancers, say lung cancer, it's a lot less about genes and more about the environment you're in.

and i'm not entirely sure, but i think that the hereditary thing only applies to cancers of the same type. say i'm more likely to get bowel cancer when i'm old, cause there's a history of it in my family, but i'm not any more likely to get any other cancer than any other member of the general population. if you get me.

Former Member

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Former Member

If you're really worried about this subject, it's best to speak to someone who has a specialist knowledge.

Cancerlink has a helpline for anyone affected by cancer, their families, friends, professionals. Provides information on different types of cancer, risk reduction, screening, physical/emotional effects of cancer, medical treatments, complementary therapies.
Helpline: 08088 082 020
www.cancerlink.org

They may be able to offer you some help on the research surrounding this subject, but if you are really concerned about your own health it's best to talk it over with your GP.

Former Member

Re: ovarian cancer and hereditary cancer

Originally posted by badabing
If hereditary cancer runs in your family, is it always the same type of cancer? for example, if say a grandparent had once had lung cancer, would it be possible for you to get say ovarian cancer?

obvioulsy it would be possible for you to get it, but i mean would it be possible for you to contract cancer hereditarily, and it be a cancer of a different area of your body than that which has already been found in other family members?

if that makes any sense at all.

quick answers much appreciated

Well, I'm not so sure how to answer your question, but cancer does kind of run in my family, as well. My great-grandfather had died of lung cancer sometime in the late 70's and my father had also died of lung cancer, on May 24, 1985, from lung cancer and my mother had died from breast cancer on December 19, 1996 and both of my great-aunts have been diagnosed with cancer, but are still both alive, luckily.

I'm thinking that cancer just may be a very hereditary thing, in a family, if it seems to be a continuous pattern, along the gene/hereidity poll, within your family.l