Why is it said that if I have a relative who is suffering from cancer, then I'll have a good probability of getting cancer myself? Isn't cancer a non-communicable disease?
Cancer is fairly common and is mostly a disease of aging. Almost half the population can be expected to develop a cancer in their lifetime. For many, this will be a slow growing skin cancer. For some, it may be more serious like lung, breast or prostate cancer. Based on rates from 2008-2010, 40.76% of men and women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of all sites at some time during their lifetime. This number can also be expressed as 1 in 2 men and women will be diagnosed with cancer of all sites during their lifetime. These statistics are called the lifetime risk of developing cancer. Sometimes it is more useful to look at the probability of developing cancer of all sites between two age groups. For example, 20.37% of men will develop cancer of all sites between their 50th and 70th birthdays compared to 15.30% for women. Cancer of All SitesInherited risk for cancer is uncommon and makes up only a small percentage of cancers. For the large majority of people, lifestyle issues are much more important than heredity. This is good. It means that most people can do things to significantly lower their chance of getting cancer. There are estimates that up to half of the cancers could be eliminated by lifestyle change, including avoiding all tobacco products, exercising and avoiding obesity. Getting vaccinated for hepatitis B and HPV would reduce cancer risk as well.Can cancer be prevented?Having one relative with cancer makes it highly unlikely that there is an inherited risk. Having multiple family members with certain types of cancers raises the possibility and further evaluation with a geneticist to see if the pattern fits one of the inherited syndromes like BRCA or Lynch would be reasonable.
What do I say to relative with cancer tumor?
My father who lives in another state just emailed everybody that he has a tumor in the kidney. He will have cat scan to see if it has spread tomorrow. He only wants emails because he has severe pains from polymyalgia. I'm always at a loss for words, so what can I or should I say? We've always been on good terms. Thanks.
Has any of Gerard Way's relatives had cancer?
The entire The Black Parade album was a story about a dying cancer patient, his/her experiences in life, and his/her afterlife. If you listen to the whole album from this perspective, you can see how each song fits in.
Should I tell my kids their relative has cancer?
You should.Kids are stronger and more resilient than you can imagine, and they are natural psychologists - they will instantly sense if you are hiding anything from them (which will undermine their trust in you and will have a detrimental effect on your authority at home).Also, keep in mind that if you do not treat them as adults, they won't treat you as one either.The key is to say it in an age appropriate level with just enough details for them to understand the issues and the nuances.It is not clear how old the kids are, so for very young kids you can say that all bodies have organs. But sometimes there's such thing as cancer: a type of internal organ that doesn't belong there.And it was just found in a relative's body. So doctors are deciding on what to do - treat it with drugs or take it out since it doesn't belong there.So kids will understand the jist of it, and you can keep them updated as needed. Kids will also be able to speak with the relative about it if they choose to do so, without this conversation or the prognosis coming from that relative (and this will allow you to control the flow of information going forward).Wishing your relative speedy recovery, and hope that being open with one another will further bring your family together (even if it's over an unpleasant situation such as cancer - but family shares it all, joys and sorrows).
What do you tell the relatives of those diagnosed with cancer?
Everyone has some great answers. For me, I would tell them the truth. I know most people are going to talk about treatments and treatment options. I’m not going to talk about them. Most people will talk about survival chances. I’m not going to talk about that either. Let them get statistics (Which can and are often SKEWED.) No, I’m going to talk about what the person holds important in his or her life. I’m going to talk about diet and learning how to accept life on life’s terms. Learning how to make the most of life because basically we are all living on a timeline and we never know when our time is up. I’m going to talk about positive life and how to realize this is just a warning light that whatever the person is doing, it isn’t working. How finding out what is the most important part of life for them is better. That’s what I would tell them. I look at life in a holistic approach. I use this model for all diseases. When I was in nursing school this is what I was taught. dis - ease … when there is something out of whack in your system whether it is emotional, mental or physical. Treatment is meant to rebalance itself. It all starts with the second most important organ in the human body … the brain.
How should I deal with the news of a relative diagnosed with cancer?
Ahem, do them and yourselves a favor and dispense with the pithy, trite, shallow, and vapid comments. Not easy to do. We're used to dealing with issues on an extremely emotionally superficial level. There's nothing superficial about cancer. Most people don't really have an emotional experience to compare it to. Saying things like "I know how you feel!" and "so-and-so died of that!" and "just think positive!" aren't very helpful.Don't throw blame around. Someone smoked for 40 years and now they have lung cancer. That guilt doesn't make it any easier, if anything it makes it harder on the person. Trying to manupulate someone with a terminal illness to fake being "positive" so that you can feel better about not having to suffer with them is really immature. But it happens, that's how people react sometimes. Best thing to do, in my opinion, is just be there for the person, for one. In person, on the phone, as much as they can handle. Don't say you know how they feel, you really don't. But you know they feel bad. Acknowledge that. You know this sucks. They know this sucks. We can discuss it without getting more depressed or faking happiness. Don't ignore them, especially if they're terminal. That's a good recipe for a lifetime of regret. Face it. Face them. hang out with them, get the most out of the time left and if there's a successful treatment, all the better. You can't just wave a magick wand and make chemo feel okay, or make surgery not be terrifying, you can just be there and spend time with and support them.
What is the advice for chemotherapy? One of my relative was diagnosed with throat and lung cancer?
Question is not complete some how. Is it one patient who is suffering form disease. If so most likely throat cancer have spread to lung or other way round. If this is the case than we left with only option of chemotherapy. In these scenarios chemo will only increase life but can't cure the disease. If patient is otherwise for than one should definitely receive chemotherapy to improve quality and duration of life and if general condition not permits than one should opt for supportive care.
Is there a higher relative prevalence of cancer in modern times vs. 100 years ago?
It would be hard to say.The major difference between now and 100 years ago is significantly better early detection and recognition of possible symptoms.So the usual suspects such as 'pined away' and 'steady weakness' have disappeared into history as causes of death and been replaced with more qualified responses.So it's not just the fact we can define better but we have taken so many other possible diseases off the fatality list that one of the few uncurables you are left with is cellular madness, also called Cancer.Are there more cancers than before? If you are of the idea that we live in a more conducive environment for cancer then in theory places with high technology exposure such as Japan and South Korea should be epicenters for cancer. As of the most recent information to hand I don't believe that to be the case.Cancer is an awful disease and it has so many possible catalysts that it may be hard to pinpoint an exclusive area region or cause of the original symptoms. Some we have researched and recognized but there are still many unknowns yet to trip across.After that all you need to reach a better conclusion is multiple years of hospital medical records across several countries to help you reach an answer.
Is cancer contagious?
One of my relatives has cancer. It is kidney cancer and he is at last stage. I went to meet him and shake hands with him. Just before he had a vomit and i don't know that he washed hands after this or not..Then i went to market and bought a chocolate for my self and i forgot to wash hands and ate it with those hands... Now i am worried about this...do i need to go to some doctor or is it ok?? is there any chance to get involved in cancer?? please help me !!!
My maternal aunt has been diagnosed with cancer lately. Could I get cancer if my relative has it?
I'm sorry to hear about your aunt.The answer to your question depends largely on the type of cancer she is diagnosed with, and perhaps the exact sub-type, if applicable.Based on the current body of knowledge, some cancers have hereditary nature, and others do not. The best answer should come from your aunt's doctor, who will probably need to know more about the cancer history in the broader and deeper family tree.If you would like, you may refer to some general information we have available at Cancer Genetics - Care Across. I hope this helps. Clearly, however, the information at the above link, and this answer, does not constitute medical advice and you should consult healthcare professionals for that. Thank you, and take care of your health.