Is cancer heritable? If a relative has cancer, will I also inherit this disease?
Regarding this, Meng Yan, director of the Second Oncology Ward of Hainan Cancer Hospital, stated that cancer is not simply "hereditary", but some cancers do have genetic susceptibility. People with a family history of cancer do not need to panic excessively, but they must raise their awareness of cancer prevention and take scientific prevention and control measures.
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Cancer heredity ≠ hereditary cancer; what is passed down is susceptibility
The public often mistakenly believes that cancer is directly passed down from parents to children, like a common genetic disease. This is actually a misconception. Director Meng Yan explained that the vast majority of cancers are the result of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. It's not that cancer itself is directly inherited, but rather that "cancer susceptibility" is inherited.
The so-called genetic susceptibility refers to the presence of certain specific mutated genes in a family, which increases the risk of cancer for individuals compared to the general population, but it does not necessarily mean that they will develop cancer. Director Meng Yan stated that cancers with clear genetic predisposition account for only 5%-10% of all cancers, and common examples include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.
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High-risk groups: Be vigilant about this type of family cancer history. What types of family cancer history warrant special attention?
These groups of people require special attention:
Two or more members of the immediate family (parents, children, siblings) have suffered from the same type of cancer, and the age of onset was relatively young (such as breast cancer before the age of 45 or colorectal cancer before the age of 50);
Immediate family members suffer from rare hereditary cancer;
There are multiple individuals in the family who have suffered from different types of cancer, and the age of onset is generally early.
Director Meng Yan reminded that such individuals should not rely on luck, but actively review their family medical history and promptly inform their doctors, so as to facilitate the development of personalized screening plans.
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Cancer Prevention Guidelines: What High-Risk Groups Should Do. Cancer Prevention for People with a Family History of Cancer
We can start from the following three aspects:
Regular and precise screening is crucial. High-risk groups need to start screening earlier. For example, for the general population, colorectal cancer screening begins at the age of 45. For those with a family history, screening should be started at the age of 40 or even earlier, and the frequency of screening should strictly follow medical advice. For women with a family history of breast cancer, in addition to routine breast ultrasound, further mammography or MRI examination should be conducted based on age and risk factors.
Developing a healthy lifestyle is fundamental. Maintaining good living habits can effectively reduce the risk of cancer. This includes quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and reducing intake of high-fat, high-salt, and processed foods. Additionally, it is important to adhere to regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, and maintain a positive and good attitude.
Avoiding exposure to carcinogenic environmental factors is crucial. It is essential to stay away from clear carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, and benzene in daily life, and reduce exposure to ionizing radiation. It is also important to actively treat chronic conditions such as chronic gastritis and chronic hepatitis, as these diseases may lead to cancer if left untreated for a long time.
Director Meng Yan reminded that having a family history of cancer does not mean being "sentenced to death from cancer". As long as we pay attention to genetic risks, achieve early screening, early detection, and early intervention, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we can effectively reduce the probability of developing cancer. The core of cancer prevention lies in "taking the initiative". Scientific prevention and control is the best way to deal with cancer risks.