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Is It Necessary To Be Tested For Cancer Inspite Of Having Family History Of Cancer?
Question: my sister just passed away with lung lancer, she was a heavy smoker until her hospitalization and death, I smoked for 17 years, and quit 11 years ago, should I get tested to see if I have cancer as well, she had breast cancer 20 years ago, our mother died of breast cancer, both grandmothers had cancer 1 died 1 survived, my daughter had ovarian cancer
Brief Answer:
Yes, see your doctor for evaluation of your risk factors
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I am so sorry you lost your sister. Cigarette smoking is extremely difficult to give up. You have done an extremely good thing for your health to have quit.
Yes, please see your doctor for an overall check up and to discuss your family history of cancers. Regular basic screenings include mammograms, breast exams, and your doctor probably does a bimanual exam (your doctor uses two hands - fingers of one hand in vagina, other hand palpating the ovaries from the top of pelvis) when you have your pelvic exam.
As you are at higher risk for ovarian cancer because of a primary relative having had it (daughter), you and your doctor can consider that you get a blood test called CA-125 which can be a marker for ovarian cancer; also a transvaginal ultrasound, which can help give information about the ovaries.
CA-125 is not always accurate, and a newer test is being worked on. But for now the CA-125 is useful.
It would also be appropriate to have a consult with a genetic counselor. If you are near a university hospital they likely have one. Some other hospitals may have them too. At minimum, it would be appropriate to test for XXXXXXX 1 and 2 genes which can be linked to inherited genes for breast and ovarian cancers. What to do if it comes back positive is not always clear, but you can be monitored more closely. Some geneticists refer patients with positive XXXXXXX genes to an oncologist who may order imaging studies (such as MRI or CT) on a regular basis. Please keep in mind that not all people who have these genes get cancers.
Regarding the smoking/family lung cancer history:
There are new guidelines for screening from the XXXXXXX Cancer Society for people who
- have smoked heavily (30 "pack years") - a pack years is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day x number of years smoked
- be aged 55 to 74 years and in fairly good health
- currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
The screening entails a low dose computed tomography (CT) scan and it should take place at a facility with experience in lung cancer screening.
I do not want to alarm you with all of this. But now you can be monitored more closely, and you have already given up smoking which is the number one cause of lung cancer (and risk factor for others as well).
I hope this helps answer your question. Please let me know if there is anything else on the subject that I can help you with.
Yes, see your doctor for evaluation of your risk factors
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I am so sorry you lost your sister. Cigarette smoking is extremely difficult to give up. You have done an extremely good thing for your health to have quit.
Yes, please see your doctor for an overall check up and to discuss your family history of cancers. Regular basic screenings include mammograms, breast exams, and your doctor probably does a bimanual exam (your doctor uses two hands - fingers of one hand in vagina, other hand palpating the ovaries from the top of pelvis) when you have your pelvic exam.
As you are at higher risk for ovarian cancer because of a primary relative having had it (daughter), you and your doctor can consider that you get a blood test called CA-125 which can be a marker for ovarian cancer; also a transvaginal ultrasound, which can help give information about the ovaries.
CA-125 is not always accurate, and a newer test is being worked on. But for now the CA-125 is useful.
It would also be appropriate to have a consult with a genetic counselor. If you are near a university hospital they likely have one. Some other hospitals may have them too. At minimum, it would be appropriate to test for XXXXXXX 1 and 2 genes which can be linked to inherited genes for breast and ovarian cancers. What to do if it comes back positive is not always clear, but you can be monitored more closely. Some geneticists refer patients with positive XXXXXXX genes to an oncologist who may order imaging studies (such as MRI or CT) on a regular basis. Please keep in mind that not all people who have these genes get cancers.
Regarding the smoking/family lung cancer history:
There are new guidelines for screening from the XXXXXXX Cancer Society for people who
- have smoked heavily (30 "pack years") - a pack years is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day x number of years smoked
- be aged 55 to 74 years and in fairly good health
- currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
The screening entails a low dose computed tomography (CT) scan and it should take place at a facility with experience in lung cancer screening.
I do not want to alarm you with all of this. But now you can be monitored more closely, and you have already given up smoking which is the number one cause of lung cancer (and risk factor for others as well).
I hope this helps answer your question. Please let me know if there is anything else on the subject that I can help you with.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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