do you have a family history of cancer?Your risk is based on:
Cancers that run in families can be familial or hereditary. If you have a family history of cancer your chance of getting cancer may be higher than the general population.
This is called a familial cancer. What does it mean to be 2 to 3 times more likely to get cancer? If everyone has a 5% chance of getting a specific type of cancer in their lifetime, Then someone with a family history of a familial cancer has a 10% to 15% chance of getting that same cancer.
How does this compare with someone who has a hereditary cancer syndrome? The chance that a person with a hereditary cancer syndrome will get cancer may be as high as 50% to 80%. In some rare cases, it may be as high as 100%.
How many people have a hereditary cancer syndrome? Only about 1 in 500 people have a hereditary cancer syndrome. Most people who have cancer have familial or sporadic cancer.
Click here to find out more about familial and hereditary breast cancer. Click here to find out more about familial and hereditary colon cancer.
Sporadic cancer happens by chance. Environmental exposures to certain chemicals or radiation, and lifestyle habits, like being inactive, smoking or drinking alcohol, can increase your change of getting cancer.
Familial cancers are caused by the interaction between genes and environmental factors share by family.
Hereditary cancers occur when a person inherits a change in a single gene that is involved in cell growth. Genes are inherited in pairs. If the second gene in the pair is altered at some point in a person's life, a cancer can form.
Hereditary cancers occur when a person inherits a change in a single gene that is involved in cell growth. Genes are inherited in pairs. If the second gene in the pair is altered at some point in a person's life, a cancer can form.
Familial cancers are caused by the interaction between genes and environmental factors shared by family.
Second Degree Relative: your grandparents, grandchildren, half-siblings, blood related aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.
First Degree Relative: your parents, children, and siblings.
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are you at risk for breast cancer? are you at risk for colon cancer? community and patient overview do you have a family history of cancer? knowing your family health history could save your life  The first powerful step you can take in your Connection process is to complete the Genomedical connection “MeTree.” Click here to print your own MeTree. Then, talk to your family, and talk to your doctor. |
