Genetic cancer risk

Hi Pancake,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our Online Community.
I’m Elise, one of the cancer information nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

It’s understandable to be worried about your risk of cancer when your family has had to cope with several members receiving a cancer diagnosis over the years and to now support your brother who has been diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.

It is important to remember that cancer is very common. Most of us have relatives who have had cancer. This does not always mean there is a cancer gene in your family, or that you have a much higher risk of developing cancer. Most cases of cancer are not caused by an inherited mutation. Only a small number of people get cancer that is clearly linked to an inherited cancer gene.

Cancer Research UK state that “Cancers due to inherited faulty genes are much less common than cancers due to gene changes caused by ageing or other factors. Most cancers develop because of a combination of chance and our environment, not because we have inherited a specific cancer gene fault.

Genetic specialists estimate that between 5 and 10 in every 100 cancers (5 to 10%) diagnosed are linked to an inherited faulty gene. 

There are some things to consider before speaking to your GP about the possibility of having a family genetic link to cancer and these are :

• the cancers developed when the family members were young – for example below the age of 50 for breast, bowel and womb cancer
• multiple close relatives on the same side of your family have had cancer – the same side of your family means either your father’s relatives or your mother’s relatives
• the relatives have had the same type of cancer, or different cancers that can be caused by the same gene fault
• one of your relatives has had a gene fault found by genetic tests

Once this information has been established and your specific risk factors have been assessed your GP will consider whether genetic testing is appropriate for you.

Your brother may also want to share your family cancer history with his consultant so they can make a judgement on possible genetic risk factors too.

You mention feeling guilty that your brother has been diagnosed with cancer and that is not an uncommon reaction.

There is no “normal “way to feel when a loved one receives horrible news like this.

It can seem so unfair when someone who lives a healthy lifestyle is diagnosed with cancer and that can be one of the scariest things about cancer, it can sometimes simply be bad luck. There can be no obvious reason why some people have cancer and others don’t.

In terms of helping your brother, that can look different for every family.

Sometimes it’s practical things that can be helpful, any household task that he might need help with, lifts to appointments, cooking some meals, doing some shopping for example.

Sometimes it’s simply keeping in regular touch either by phone or visiting, often to talk about everyday things, favourite sport, a TV programme that you’re both watching or what’s happening in the news but also letting him know that if he wants to talk about how he is coping or what’s worrying him then you are there to talk about that too.

Don’t worry about asking your brother what he needs from you. I’m sure he will appreciate it.

If you think it would be helpful you can call the support line to talk things through in a bit more detail.

We’re here to support you all as you cope with this news.

The members of the friends and family forum will, I’m sure offer support and words of advice too.

Best wishes,
Elise

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

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