A family of five was diagnosed with thyroid cancer one after another. Why did the cancer prevention line collapse completely?

Recently, when a patient was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University, Director Cai Ming of the Thyroid Oncology Department reminded him that thyroid cancer is hereditary. Afterwards, the patient's mother, sister, uncle, and cousin also underwent relevant screening for thyroid cancer, and were found to have thyroid cancer! The doctor reminded: "If someone in the family is sick, the risk of other members will also increase accordingly. You must have regular physical examinations and pay attention to the screening of related tumors."

Is cancer really hereditary?

Cancer is a word that makes people shudder. In recent years, the incidence of cancer in my country has increased year by year, and has become the number one threat to people's lives and health. In clinic, many patients are puzzled: Why does a certain type of cancer "cluster" in a family? Is cancer really hereditary? This article will reveal the mystery of cancer inheritance, show you which cancers are likely to be passed on to the next generation, and how to take preventive measures.

In fact, cancer does have a genetic tendency. Studies have found that cancer inheritance may cause multiple people to suffer from different cancers, and a pathogenic mutation in a gene may cause multiple cancers. For example, after the brca1 gene mutates, it may cause breast cancer and ovarian cancer. A large number of studies have found that the following 8 types of cancer are easily inherited to the next generation: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.

Which cancers are hereditary?

1. Gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, and some types of gastric cancer are indeed hereditary. In particular, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer accounts for a relatively high proportion of all gastric cancer cases. If at least two people in a family have the disease in one or two generations, and one of them is younger than 50 years old, and all patients have diffuse gastric cancer, then the family may have hereditary gastric cancer.

2. Bowel cancer

About 10% to 30% of colorectal cancer patients have a family history. Familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer are the two main hereditary colorectal cancers. If someone in the family has these diseases, the risk of colorectal cancer in other members will increase significantly.

3. Liver cancer

The hereditary nature of liver cancer has also been confirmed in medical research. If there are multiple liver cancer patients in a family, especially in the same generation or consecutive generations , then the incidence of liver cancer in this family will be much higher than that of an ordinary family. Family members should pay attention to liver health, have regular liver examinations, and adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of cancer.

4. Breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the cancers with a clear genetic tendency . If there is a breast cancer patient in the parents, brothers or sisters in the family, the risk of breast cancer for other family members will increase. Especially if the mother or female relative has breast cancer before the age of 30, the daughter or female relative will be more likely to have breast cancer. For high-risk families, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene testing can be considered to assess the risk of cancer and take corresponding preventive measures.

5. Thyroid cancer

The hereditary nature of thyroid cancer has also been confirmed in clinical studies. If there are three or more first-degree relatives (such as parents, children, and siblings) with thyroid cancer, the probability that the family is hereditary will exceed 94% . Family members should undergo regular thyroid examinations, including thyroid function tests and ultrasound examinations, to detect thyroid abnormalities at an early stage.

How to deal with genetic risk of cancer?

1. Regular physical examination

For family members with a history of cancer, regular physical examinations are the first line of defense against cancer. Since cancer often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, regular physical examinations can help detect abnormalities early and provide timely treatment. For example, colonoscopy can detect intestinal polyps and early colon cancer in a timely manner; breast ultrasound and mammography can identify subtle changes in breast tissue and detect breast cancer early; thyroid ultrasound can help detect thyroid nodules, thereby diagnosing thyroid cancer early.

2. Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an important means of preventing cancer. A healthy diet means taking in a balanced variety of nutrients, reducing the intake of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods, and increasing the proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits. A regular schedule helps maintain the stability of the body's internal biological clock and promotes the normal functioning of the immune system. Moderate exercise can enhance physical fitness, improve body resistance, and help prevent cancer. In addition, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are also key factors in reducing the risk of cancer. Tobacco and alcohol are important causes of many cancers.

3. Genetic counseling

Genetic counseling is an important step for family members with a genetic predisposition to cancer. Through genetic counseling, professionals can help assess an individual's risk of cancer and provide personalized recommendations based on family history and genetic test results. Genetic counseling can not only provide individuals with strategies to prevent cancer, but also help family members understand how to monitor and reduce their risk of cancer.

4. Genetic blocking

For extremely high-risk cancer families, genetic blocking is a proactive preventive measure. Through medical means such as embryo screening, assisted reproductive technology or gene editing, it is possible to avoid passing high-risk genes to the next generation. This measure requires a professional medical team to evaluate and implement it to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the technology.

The hereditary nature of cancer cannot be ignored. Caring for your family starts with understanding the hereditary nature of cancer. Through regular physical examinations, a healthy lifestyle, genetic counseling and other measures, we can reduce the risk of cancer and build a solid line of defense for our family. Let us work together to fight cancer and protect our beautiful home.