COURIER L 46 IFE, OCT. 11-17, 2019
Understanding family
cancer syndromes
Few, if any, families
have not been affected
by cancer. No
individual or family
is immune to cancer,
but some families may be
more at risk of developing
certain types of cancer
than others.
In many instances,
cancers that run in
families can be linked to
behaviors that families
share. For example, families
that smoke tobacco
may be more vulnerable
to cancer than those that
don’t, as the smoke from
tobacco is known to contain
dozens of carcinogens.
Cancer can affect
multiple generations,
even in families in which
only one person smokes,
as exposure to secondhand
smoke also increases
cancer risk.
But poor behaviors
or the effects of those behaviors
are not the only
cancer risk factors that
can be passed down
from generation
to generation.
According to the
American Cancer
Society, between
five and 10 percent
of all cancers result
directly from
gene mutations
inherited from
a parent. When
cancers within a family
are strongly linked to
such mutations, this is
known as family cancer
syndrome.
Cancer is not necessarily
caused by a family
cancer syndrome, even
if gene mutations are inherited.
But the following
factors may make it more
likely that cancers in a
family are caused by a
family cancer syndrome:
• Many cases of the
same type of cancer, especially
if the cancer is
considered uncommon or
rare.
• Cancers that occur at
an abnormally young age
within a family compared
to the median age such
cancers are typically diagnosed
among the general
population.
• More than one type of
cancer in a single person.
• Cancers that occur in
both of a pair of organs,
such as in both kidneys,
both breasts, or both
Such instances are rare,
but an elevated risk for certain
types of cancer can be
passed down from generation
to generation.
eyes.
• More than one childhood
cancer in siblings.
• Cancer that occurs in
a sex that is not usually
affected by that type of
cancer, such as a man being
diagnosed with breast
cancer.
Before discussing
the potential of a family
cancer syndrome with
their physicians, men
and women can survey
their family histories
with the disease.
Adults can make
a list of the people
in their families
who have been
diagnosed with
cancer, noting
their relationship
to each
individual and
which side of the family
each person is on. List
the type of cancers each
person was diagnosed
with, placing an asterisk
or note next to types
that are considered rare
or unusual. In addition,
list the age of diagnosis
for each family member
and whether or not they
developed more than one
type of cancer. This may
be difficult to determine,
but try to learn if each
relative diagnosed with
cancer made any lifestyle
choices that might
have contributed to their
diagnosis. Such choices
include smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, and
activity level.
Family cancer syndromes
are rare, but understanding
them can
still help families make
the right lifestyle choices.
More information about
family cancer syndromes
is available at www.cancer.
org.
MAX
/www.can-cer.org
/www.can-cer.org
/www.can-cer.org