family histories of cancer???

Emelee26

Hi everyone,
My mom and I are seeing a geneticist today and we all know that breast and ovarian cancer can be linked by the BRCA genes....since not all the other genes are identified, I was wondering if people would write their family history of cancer..it's been suggested that there's links between colon, prostate, and stomach with BC (my mom and I read a recent article on stomach, so it may not be widely known..apparently there may be a link between father's with stomach cancer passing a gene making their daughters susceptible to breast)..these may be on genes that are just not identified yet. I was just wondering the cancer histories because I have a lot of cancer in my family...thanks!!

My mom had BC...her father died of stomach cancer, no cancer on her mother's side, she doesn't know about the rest of her father's side, although it may be possible that his 2 brothers and father all died of stomach cancer also.

I am 24 and do not have BC, but my mom had BC, one grandfather died of stomach, my other grandfather died of lung cancer (not the type smoker's get), my grandmother had bladder cancer, her brother died of stomach cancer.

I thought I'd also add my mom's sister has atypical hyperplasia..some doctors suggested that may mean a genetic link in my family...otherwise my 3 girl cousins have an aunt with BC, one grandfather died of stomach cancer, one grandmother died of ovarian cancer, and a great uncle has prostate.

I plan on asking some questions to the geneticist today, so I'll let you know what he says about various cancer links!

Thanks everyone!!!
Marisa

joyce_anne

hi my uncle everett had lung cancer, my other uncle had stomach cancer had a cousin she had colon cancer. my other cousin jack had throat cancer. me of course breast cancer. i believe that is all. i did not realize that until i got breast cancer..

sandi1955

Hi Marisa. Great topic you introduced! I'm looking forward to reading the responses.

Here's my family history: Paternal grandmother was a 30 year breast cancer survivor, my dad died from colon cancer, and my brother's son is a 7 year testicular cancer survivor. On my maternal side: my grandfather died from pancreatic cancer, 2 uncles died from prostate cancer, my aunt was a 14 year colon cancer survivor, and my mom is a 40 year cervical cancer survivor. Of my mom's immediate family, only her mother escaped cancer. Oh yeah, I don't want to forget myself. I'm a 3 1/2 year bc survivor.

Let us know what you find out.
Sandi

susan_CNY

Hi Marissa. Paternal side of my family, his Mom had breast and oral cancer, her twin brothers both had colon. My Dad had colon cancer twice and died with throat, one of his brothers colon, and one sister colon another sister breast. Maternal side, my Mom had cervical cancer. I had cervical 20 years ago, colon 2002 and breast 2003. Will be interesting to hear what the geneticist has to say. I think all are connected.

Emelee26

Wow..Susan, have your seen a geneticist..I can't believe you have had 3 separate cancers!! You are truly a survivor 3 times over!!!
We met with the geneticist, he was so nice. Basically he said that in terms of BRCA genes, the mutations include reproductive cancers, breast cancers, prostate, and pancreatic cancers...they are only able to test for some of the mutations on these genes so even if women have very high family history of breast or ovarian, and they test negative for BRCA1 or 2, they still might have a heriditary cancer; it just hasn't been found yet. He said that my mom has a low risk, but my risk is relatively high because my father is an Ashkanazi Jew. He said that colon and stomach cancers run on a different gene mutation and can sometimes give breast cancer, but the risk is small. I know there are other genes that breast cancer runs on and I think they can give thyroid or throat cancer..anyway, the info was really interesting. I'm pretty sure I have heard that even if you don't have the BRCA genes, if there is a lot of cancer in the family, you have a higher likelihood of getting any kind of cancer. Either way, he said the average women has a 1 in 800 chance of having the BRCA1 or 2 mutation, but Ashkanazi jews have a 1 in 40 chance..yikes, I got really teary-eyed when he said that. Basically, he said that it's possible I inherited the gene from my dad and my mom getting BC could just be a coincidence. He also said that you have to follow one line of ancestors to trace the genes: if my maternal side only has breast, but my paternal side had breast, ovarian, and pancreatic, I would be more likely to get a gene mutation from my paternal side...so given my history, my mom only has about an 8% chance of having a mutation..he's checking with her insurance anyway and if they cover it, she'll get the testing...she gets nervous because her friend had BC and was only given a small chance of having the gene...her sister then got BC and everyone got tested-2 out 4 sisters ended up having the gene..I'm not sure if they had a history though..oh yeah, the DR. also said that it doesn't matter what type of BC a women has in terms of the likelihood of having a gene...he's seen women test positive for the genes that have all types of pathology reports..the three factors for assessing a women's risk of hereditary BC were: BC before age 50, mutilple familial generations affected, more than one primary cancer in the BC patient. My mom only had 1 of the 3 criteria. He said that for BC to occur, people would have to have what he called 2 "hits" for their genes to change and form cancer...this is why the majority of BC patients that do not have hereditary cancer form BC after the age of 50...it takes a while for the "hits" to occur. Women that have a gene mutation, are born with 1 of the 2 "hits" so the time to get the 2nd hit takes shorter and the BC patients are then a younger age when they get it. Anyway, this is still an interesting thread and I really would like to see everyone's cancer histories!! Talk to you all soon!! (sorry so long!!)
Marisa

Tracie

Where do I even begin??
Mom - breast cancer survivor (2 yrs out) GO MOM!!
Maternal aunt - breast cancer (she lost her battle in 2003)
Maternal grandmother - breast cancer (battle lost in 1990)
Maternal great-grandmother - b/c and ovarian (???)
Maternal grandfather - stomach & intestinal cancers

Paternal grandmother's brother - had prostrate cancer
(thank God this is it on my father's side, because my mother's side certainly makes up for it!!)

With all that history, my mom tested NEGATIVE for the BRCA genes. We were certain it would be positive, but who knows?
Some other genetic thing happening in our family.....
Big Hugs,

garcic

Where do I start:

Fathers side:
grandmother: breast cancer
uncle: prostrate cancer
Uncle-liver cancer

Mothers side:
Grandmother: urethra, lung
uncle- germ cell
aunt- lung
mother-leukemia

And than there's me with breast cancer.

Sunshine430

My father and his side of the family has passed away from non-cancer related causes. So most of my family cancer runs on my mother side. Everything is second generational cause my mom is the only child:

My grandmother - BC
Great Uncle - prostate
2 second cousins with BC
1 w/ melanoma
Second cousin - leukemia
Second cousin - rectal
Second cousin - Hodgkins' disease
I have other cousins/great uncles/aunts w/cancers - I don't know what kind - I was a kid and they didn't tell me anything back then.

Most of them survivors.

beachcottage

colon cancer MY dad In remission at the time of his death
Throat cancer My Older Brother "NED Thank God"
Melanoma Uncle """""""""""""
lung cancer Uncle mother side of family

Emelee26

Tracie,
The geneticist told us that 70% of women that have heriditary BC test positive for either BRCA 1 or 2..the other 30% have a a mutation on their BRCA genes but they can't test for them yet...in the future, it may be called BRCA 3 or 4..maybe that's what your family has...it can be so annoying to have such a strong family history and then test negative!
Marisa

Emelee26

Well, maybe not have the name BRCA 3 or 4, but you know what I mean...the gene still carries a risk of BC and OC, but is not on the 1 or 2 BRCA
Marisa

Tracie

Thanks Marisa,
That's exactly what I was told too.
To quote:
"although you have tested negative for the BRCA 1/2 genes, we feel strongly that the bc in your family is genetically linked. There are too many women in a direct blood line diagnosed with bc to consider this sporadic cancers."
Not to reassuring, to say the least.
Thanks,

Anonymous

Wow,

I can't believe how many of you have relatives that have cancer.

I am the first to have cancer (twice) in my family...I wonder what this means for my future grandchildren?

Scary thought huh???
Pepper

Tracie

Pepp,

What we all pray and hope for is that future generations will no longer have to deal with these issues.



I want to live to see the day when people talk about their breast cancer like my grandparents talk about "the plague" or those illnesses that we now are able to vaccinate for.

There is even a vaccination for chicken pox now! (Remember before chicken pox just got around, entire classrooms would come down with it)



On the other side, I still find it hard to believe that scientists can clone animals and humans. They can create cells and genes. But they can't figure out the cure nor THE CAUSE of cancer.

They can only figure out the contributors of a cancer diagnosis. It just doesn't make any sense.

Someone please explain it to me!



Hugs,

Fighter_Lu

Here is my history on my mom's side......
Grandfather- colon cancer
great uncle- prostate cancer (grandfather's brother)
great uncle- colon cancer (grandfather's brother)
(my grandmother died at 45 stroke)
Great aunt- Breast cancer (grandmother's sister)
mom- breast cancer
aunt- breast cancer
2nd aunt- breast cancer and overian cancer
Now me with Breast cancer with mets
I was tested for the BRCA1/2 gene and tested negative
LuAnn

mountainquilter

I'm the first with breast cancer that I know of.

My sister had cervical cancer in her thirties, is OK now.

My grandma died in her late 70's of stomach cancer.

One male cousin died of cancer in his early 20's. I have dozens of other cousins and relatives, none of whom have had cancer to my knowledge.

Peggy

TashaG

Paternal:

Grandmother - BC/OC - lost battle in 1992
Aunts - all 4 BC - all four lost battles
6 cousins - all BC - 2 lost 1987/2000
And then there is me...the only girl of the only boy...that makes 100%

Maternal

Nothing...oh yeah...me

Emelee26

Tasha,
Wow..that's a huge family history...I'm sorry you now have to deal with this..I've read your other postings and even in the saddest times..you seem to be able to bring a smile to my face..your son is very lucky to have you as his mother...you seem so caring and sweet...I just figured I would write this here instead of starting a new thread.
Marisa

TashaG

Thank you...very very much...you have no idea how much kind words help. I tetter from insane to slightly less insane...I never thought that I would ever "lose" it...but this time I cant seem to hold it together for too long. I was pretty sure that I was going to get BC just a matter of when, but atleast my mom is living with me so I so have a lot of help.

GreenHeron

Hi..

As you teeter, I will repeat the magic words my sister in law said when I REALLY lost it once during treatment: "Being strong doesn't mean being strong EVERY SINGLE MINUTE!" Teeter away!

I'm first case on either side of big, extended families, but found I carry a gene for this...???!!!

Teetering (sorry, I love that image) away here too,

Flashdif

Tracie

Hey Tasha!
I sent you a private message..
Hugs,

sierrasusieq

My FAmily History:

My Mother had 4 sisters.

One died of BC at 48 Years old after fighting it for 8 years.

Next one died at 55 years old after fighting Bc for about 5 years.

Next one had Cancer of the uterus. Still a survivor.

My Mother had BC at 52 and now 21 years later has mets to the lungs and is still fighting it.

Grandmother died of Leukemaia. She was my Mothers Mother.

I had Bc at 42 years old which was 8 years ago and am still surviving.

On my FAthers side I only know of one aunt who had BC but a whole lot of heart problems from this side.

My Mother grew up in Iowa which is farm land. Sometimes I wonder if there is any connection there. You know , Hormone fed beef and chicken, etc.

JudeMama

Father's side:
Grandfather, brain cancer, died @ 1970
Grandmother, breast cancer, died 1976 (Heart failure)
Great Aunt, breast cancer, 40 + year survivor!
2 Aunts, breast cancer, one died @ 10 years ago, one 15+ year survivor
2 female cousins, breast cancer, both 5+ year survivors
Uncle, Lung cancer, still undergoing chemo, currently inoperable

Mother's side:
Uncle, melanoma, 20+ year survivor

Me, breast cancer, so far a 2-month survivor!

Yikes!

Jude

BethNY

My family history.
My grandmother had lymphoma and lived for ten yrs. she died in her 70's.
My paternal great grandmother had BC and died in 1930's. I dont' even know if they knew what bc was back then.
Then theres me.
I just turned 27. How crazy is that?
my genetic test was negative.
i wonder what this does to my future family tree. But I might not even be able to get pregnant after all of this...

Glad

Interesting thread, Emalee.

My parents families were huge, 12 kids in both. My geneticist thinks that the instances of cancer in our family may be due to the sheer numbers of people alone, and not necessarily genetics. I should be getting my test results back sometime this week, and will let you know how it turns out.

Maternal history
Grandmother- Stomach cancer, died at 73
Grandfather- colon cancer, died of brain hemorage at 75
Aunt- colon cancer, died from it at 60
Uncle- Lung cancer, died from it at 80
3 maternal cousins, BC, all before age 50, all survivors

Paternal
Grandmother- BC at 43, bone cancer at 65 (I am guessing mets)died of bone cancer at 66
Father- Colon, bone, prostate, stomach, battle lost at 73
Aunt- BC at 46, 20 yr survivor
Aunt- Colon cancer, died of it at 45
Aunt-Colon cancer, died of it at 47
Cousin- BC at 40, 4 yr survivor
Cousin-colon cancer, died of it at 32

This would seem more scary to me if I only had 5 aunts and uncles and 15 cousins. As it is, I have over 70 cousins. Maybe it's law of averages, maybe it's some other wacky genes as yet unidentified. Either way, I will know about BRCA and me very soon. Incidentally, my insurance picked up the cost. If it had not, I would not have done the test. I am using the information to guide me in my level of aggression towards tx incase I develop another primary in the future.

Thanks, Emalee, for getting this started!
Glad

MarthaB

Maternal history
Mom had BC at 44, died at 46 with mets to liver, bones.
Aunt had colon cancer, still kickin' at 85.
No other cancers and grandmother lived to be 98.

Paternal history
No cancer that I know of, and lots of longevity--living into 80s and 90s and grandmother died at 102.

Daughter has leukemia, but this is thought to be environmental rather than inherited.
The geneticists said there was probably no point in testing for BC genes.
MarthaB

jenbrooklyn

No cancer in my family except my great grandfather who, at 92 had a melanoma on his face (too much golf) -

I have autoimmune diseaes, heart problems and alcoholism - but not a heck of a lot of cancer in my family history.

Go figure!

hugs to all -
Jennifer

kjd

I'm waiting for my BRCA 1/2 genetic test results, due back in mid-January.

My history
me - BC age 47
Mother - BC age 49
only Sister - BC age 55
3 aunts (mother's side) BC, all in their 60's
Grandmother (maternal) BC 47, Colon 55
Grandmother (paternal) Ovarian 80
Grandfather (paternal) Stomach 81
uncle (father's side) Colon 62

The good news is with all the BC in the family, everyone who had it was successfully treated. No recurrences. Unfortunately, the other cancers proved more deadly in my family.

donnams

Hi there,

Here's the history....
Mother: Breast cancer at 47, a 20 year survivor!!!
Her father (maternal grandfather): died of stomach cancer
Maternal Aunts: 1 died of stomach cancer, 2 of breast cancer (one before the age of 50).
One of their daughters: Died breast cancer at 43 (though not sure if she got any treatment...lived on an island in Italy).

I was dx at age 41 (9/04) and recently tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation. So those of you with stomach cancers in your families, you may want to pursue genetic testing. The genetic counselor told me I had only a 7% chance of testing positive for the gene based on the family history....so much for percentages!

Peace and hugs, Donna

Emelee26

Hi,
My mom and I read an article when she was first diagnosed about a link between stomach and breast cancer, although most doctors discount it...then I saw an article that said it might be because of a link between a bacteria that is known to cause stoamch cancer and the possibility of it linking to breast also...that's interesting that you tested positive - my mom's father died of stomach fairly young...but my mom tested negative (she also had 7% chance) I was told I had a much higher risk than her because my father's side of Ashkanazi Jew - I don't know if I'll be tested in the future...
Marisa

Carmelle

me:breast cancer both sides 38
my dad, prostate cx 58
his brother, prostate cx 58
his sister, atypical 45
his mother, pancreatic 65
her mother,Breast cx(passed at)51
maternal aunt BC, 74

Dr's say not genetic? HELLO.
Michelle