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by obrein on January 29th, 2007

obrein

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I have a doubt about cancer. If mother dies of liver cancer, her children are at risk for ONLY liver cancer ?? or can they develop other cancers too like skin cancer or breast cancer or prostate cancer ???? is there any risk like that?

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Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by Your sisters cute friend on May 12th, 2009

    Your sisters cute friend

    Liver cancer can be caused by exposure to chemicals, in which case her children are not at an elevated risk unless they were exposed to the same chemicals. Unfortunately this is likely if they drank the same water and lived in the same home.

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  • by ChrisDG on January 29th, 2007

    ChrisDG

    In basic terms, genetics determines what predispositions someone has. A number of mutations need to occur before a cell turns cancerous. TYhese can accumluate over time, or be passed onto daughter cells, hence the older someone is, the higher the risk of cancer. This is why age is the biggest risk factor for cancers.

    In people who have a genetic predisposition to a cancer, this means that one or more of these mutations has already occured in their parents germ cells (sperm/egg) so they are born with it already. Obviously, this increases risk but it does not mean that they will get cancer, as the others must also occur, following exposure to mutagens (cigarette smoke, natural DNA errors, radiation, etc).

    WIth me so far? OK, now certain cancer types are at increased risk with certain mutations, due to different cells using different parts of their DNA more than others. In the case of liver cancer, the children are at higher risk than other people of developing it, however, *if* they have a mutation already this can also predispose them to others, depending on the mutation involved. It depends on what the part of DNA that the mutation is in actually does. If it is in a gene that regulates cell death, then the offspring would be at increased risk of any cancer. If it is a gene that is commonly expressed in the liver but not in other places, then the risk is for liver cancer only.

    If I was in this position, I would consult with your family doctor who can perhaps refer you to a specialist who may be able to help much more than we can on this site. But the short answer is, the children *may* be at higher risk of developing liver cancer, if there s a genetic mutation passed on, but this still does not guarantee cancer by any means. Furthermore, it is quite likely there is no genetic mutation that has been passed on, since the nature of the liver is that it is subjected to so mamy chemicals throughout life, that this is probably why any cancer developed in the first place, rather than genetics.

    Seriously, go see a professional in person, who can answer questions face to face.

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  • by rosie on July 20th, 2009

    rosie

    While your risk is higher, you can develop cancer even if there is no risk of cancer. I got breast cancer in 2000 and recovered but my family had no history of breast cancer or any cancer. I did not smoke, would exercise, would not be on the sun and I got cancer. I recovered thanks to God. Your mom's oncologist may have literature, brochure regarding this matter. I was not a candidate as I was young too. I had a rare cancer that usually attacks females left breast.

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