Someone: “Why does cancer keep following our family through generations like a dark cloud?”
“7 Mangalwaar fasts, burning these incense sticks at night, cutting 2 goats every 6 months, feeding 786 orphans, lighting a candle every Wednesday at the altar for each relative you want alive will MOST DEFINITELY get rid of this dark cloud” Said the religious head prepping his mawa and hiding his chillum.
Do note, no one can REALLY guarantee you getting rid of this dark cloud. Even the most pious can only most definitely guarantee. So that’s a what, 95%?
So hold on. Didn’t mean to catch you in your embarrassing moment as you carry only 7 odd candles to the altar.
If you’re one of those who has had multiple family members being diagnosed to have cancer, its quite likely that the cancer might just be hereditary. And like most things in nature and the divine power, the explanation to this is at best plausible and most certainly in its infancy and yet to be explored by the scientists of the world which does ,in fact, involve sacrificing a couple of lab animals. Until we reach to the definite reason as to WHY, we may as well educate ourselves on WHAT these particular traits can be, how do we alert ourselves and our family members (of 7).
A certain cluster of cancers have been found to occur together attributed to certain changes/ mutations in the genetic code which are likely inherited though generations in a family. To make things simpler, these “altered genes” are passed down through generations like family heirloom. And just like these heirlooms, you might or might not get them! (Now you’ll think twice before fencing for those jewels).
Let us consider a fairly more common form of hereditary cancer syndrome, as they are called. The Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC). The HBOC accounts for roughly 20 % of all breast cancers diagnosed and is caused by a cluster of genes with varying risk of inheritance and expression. The most common (and famous) genetic mutations are in the BRCA 1 and 2 genes. These genes are responsible for cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, pancreas, prostate and colon. Breast cancer in cis gendered males is a rare phenomenon and is strongly associated with mutations in one of these genes.
So should you now panic if your mum has had breast cancer?
Yes and No.
Factors that must be present in your mum are:
-Early age at diagnosis
-Prior to attaining menopause
-Type of cancer: If you have been told that it is a Hormone receptor negative/ Triple negative/high grade / “aggressive”
-Ovarian cancer
Along with history of multiple family members affected including male breast cancer?
Then yes.
Yes, you may investigate yourself further.
It is sensible in such cases to meet a doctor who will refer you for genetic counselling to an expert who will explain in great detail and compassion what I tried to do in this blog for free, but be paid for it! Simple.
Each person has 2 copies of a particular gene. So the chances of an affected parent transferring the affected gene to their child is 50% considering the other parent is normal. That’s good enough number for you to get yourself tested.
Tests are basically done on a outpatient basis by drawing a simple blood sample.
The question is, why are we doing these tests?
-You are aware of the presence or absence of that particular gene in you.
-You can be on the lookout for these cancer groups
-You may have to undergo risk reducing surgeries if you choose to and are eligible for
-You can make sound family decisions.
I know I’ve tried to make it sound like a cake-walk and a point wise to-do list, but God knows that I know how hard it is to learn about it, digest it and make a sane choice. When I can’t do it in spite of being a cancer surgeon, I can only understand how the non-medical population can feel. But like I always conclude, there are a set of cards that we are dealt, just like our genes. We can’t quit the game! We gotta just play…
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