Shannon Medical Center | Health Beat | Winter 2019

Cancer A t a recent family gathering, you learn that your aunt was just diagnosed with cancer. It’s shocking news. But it also reminds you of the fact that your grandfather had cancer years ago too. Or was it a distant cousin? The state of your relatives’ health may have you wondering: If cancer runs in my family, does that mean I’ll get the disease too? If your relatives have—or have had— cancer, it may increase your own risk for the disease. But it’s certainly no guaran- tee that you’ll get it. Most people with cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Also, not everyone with cancer in the family has what’s considered a strong family history or an inherited genetic risk. Both of those situations can in- crease your chances of getting cancer considerably. All of that said, knowing your fam- ily history of cancer is very important. If you are at higher risk, there may be things you can do to help lower your risk. Or you may need to follow a dif- ferent screening schedule to increase your chances of finding and treating any cancer as early as possible. 3 CANCERS THAT MAY RUN IN FAMILIES Many people get confused when it comes to family history and cancer risk. Here’s a quick look at what it means to have a family history of three common cancers. Find out what it means Cancer in the family? BREAST CANCER. Breast cancer in the family is more likely to be significant if it occurs in a close relative. For instance, if your mother, sister or daughter had breast cancer, it may nearly double your chances of getting the disease. Your risk can be even higher if more than one close relative (such as your mother and your sister) had breast cancer, especially at a relatively young age. Sometimes, having close relatives with breast cancer can mean that a woman—or a man—has inherited a genetic tendency to develop the disease, most often a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. A woman normally has a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer in her life- time. But in the case of an inherited BRCA gene mutation, that risk can climb to 7 in 10. Men rarely get breast cancer, but of those that do about 1 in 5 have a close relative—male or female—with the disease. Tell your doctor if you’re concerned about your family history. If an inherited risk for breast cancer is suspected, genetic counseling and testing may be an option. If you are at increased risk: Your doctor may suggest steps to reduce your risk for breast cancer that go beyond those recommended for women at average risk. Depending on your risk, these may include: ●  ● Having earlier and more frequent screenings. Your doctor may recommend that you start getting mammograms before you turn 40, possibly along with an MRI scan. ●  ● Taking medicines, such as tamoxifen or raloxifene, to help prevent breast cancer. ●  ● Undergoing preventive surgery. Some women at very high risk may consider having surgery to remove both breasts. This reduces the risk of breast cancer considerably, but it doesn’t eliminate it. If you’re a man with a strong family history of breast cancer, talk to your doc- tor about what type of screening might be best for you. 4 HEALTH BEAT