Thursday, October 20, 2011

Are colon cancer, breast cancer, and stomach cancer genetically related

Are colon cancer, breast cancer, and stomach cancer genetically related?
My grandmother had colon cancer, my uncle has stomach cancer and my aunt has breast cancer. I thought that colon and stomach cancer were both related genetically but I was unsure about breast cancer. The aunt and uncle are my grandmothers kids she is the one who had colon cancer. Thank you. I looked on the internet and could not find anything. I am just wanting to know for my own reasons I know I could have them ask the doctor, but they are going through alot.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
You can ask YOUR doctor if you wanted. :) Breast cancer is most definitely one that runs in the family, in fact they can test your blood to see if you have a defective gene for breast cancer. Aunt is quite far away though. The risk is usually grandmother and mother is an especially bad risk for future BC. I'm not sure about the other 2 cancers, I don't think so, but bear in mind that cancer is quite common and especially with older people, so you shouldn't think that just because you are related to people with cancer that you are any more likely to get it. It would be unusual to NOT know or be related to anyone who has had cancer. Just put in google, colon cancer + hereditary or whatever cancer you want to look up. I might look it up later for you but I don't have time just now.
2 :
not necessarily genetically connected but once an incidence of cancer occurs in a family, the odds of someone else contracting it increase. however, some folks a genetically pre disposed to some cancers.
3 :
No, none of them are related to each other. Well, not exactly. Breast and ovarian cancer are linked to each other. For those who are BRCA-1 positive there is a increase risk for breast, ovarian, colon and prostate cancers with a lifetime risk of 50-85% for breast cancer and 15-45% for ovarian cancer. I do not know the percentages for the others. For those who are BRCA-2 positive there is an increased risk for breast, ovarian, pancreatic and melanoma cancers. The p53 gene carries a 50% lifetime risk for breast cancer and is associated with some sarcomas, brain tumors, leukemias and adrenal cancers. EDIT: I may have been the only one who misunderstood you. I thought you were asking if breast, colon and stomach cancers were related to each other, not if these cancers are hereditary. Rarely is cancer of any type hereditary, less than 10% are.

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