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Marauder
New User
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:34 am Post subject: Some general questions! |
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Hey all,
Would just like to ask if cancer is herditary? I am aware that other diseases such as kidney failure and diabetes are herditary but am not sure about cancer.
Also, how will unborn babies be affected if their mother is diagnosed with cancer RIGHT before her baby is due?
Also, are there any forms of cancer that could be or are potentially contagious? i.e spread through mouth, body fluids, airborne etc.
Thanks for reading. Any answers are much appreciated. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3949
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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Hi Marauder, these are some pretty serious questions. Are you asking for yourself or someone else? In any event, I am very sorry about this situation.
There is no cancer that is "hereditary" in the strictest sense of that word. That is, just because a parent has it, does not mean that without any doubt the child will have it. There are only three types of cancer where there is any scientifically proven genetic link: breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer. That is, a woman who has a family history of breast cancer has a greater probability of getting breast cancer than the average woman.
The unborn baby will not be affecting by the mother's cancer unless, obviously, the cancer is in the mother's uterus, vagina, etc. The only problem might be that the doctors will postpone treatment until after the baby is born.
No cancer is contagious. The virus that is often associated with cervical cancer is sexually transmitted. However, even then, there is not a clear correlation between the two issues; some women get cervical cancer even without the virus.
Let us know more of the story behind your questions.
Regards.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Marauder
New User
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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Hey thanks for the quick reply.
I am actually asking these questions because i am in charge of writing a cancer awareness campaign for my school, as it is important for people to be aware of certain cancer related issues. It is very encouraging to see so many brave people out there fighting on with cancer, i am deeply humbled by so many of you. 
One more thing - What are the % of people who has survived cancer? I know this might not be answerable though. Maybe you guys' opinions on it?
Thanks for reading once again. Deeply appreciated. |
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Vee Smith
Moderator
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 749
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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There are different statistics for different countries/regions.
This is one of the reports on the US : http://tinyurl.com/2cu6lc |
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pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1138
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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Marauder,
One bit of information that might be of interest to you is that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the U.S. and World.
In the U.S. lung cancer accounts for over 30% of all cancer deaths. It kills more people every year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, and melanoma cancers COMBINED. These are 2005 figures and they only get worse for lung cancer every year.
Lung cancer kills more than twice as many women as breast cancer every year -- but you don't see the clear ribbons for lung cancer awareness. Clear is for the "invisible" cancer that no one wants to talk about.
Lung cancer kills three times as many men each year as prostate cancer.
Over 50% of new lung cancer cases will be diagnosed at a very late stage—Stage IIIb or IV—and only 5% of them will survive for 5 years.
Think not smoking or quitting years ago makes a difference? It sure helps, but the number of never-smokers getting lung cancer is on the rise.
Current smokers: 35-40% of new lung cancer cases
Former smokers: 50% of new lung cancer cases
Never smoked: 10-15% of new lung cancer cases <<<---- and this figure is rising every year
(Above Statistics from Lung Cancer Alliance - 2005)
From the American Cancer Society the news continues to get worse:
**Of the 10 leading sites of new cancer cases and deaths in 2007 - 57% of the deaths will be from Lung & Bronchus Cancer.
>>>>>>>To date there are no tests for early diagnosis of lung cancer. <<<<<<<
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Of interest also might be a comparison of Lung Cancer deaths to AID's deaths in the U.S.
From the Center for Disease Control:
The cumulative (1981-2005) estimated number of deaths of persons with AIDS in the United States and District of Columbia, through 2005, was 530,307 compared to 2,880,000 lung cancer deaths during the same time period (based on a conservative estimate of 120,000 lung cancer deaths per year).
Follow the money allocated by the government or raised for breast, prostate cancer, or AID's vs. the amounts for lung cancer.
I'd wager most people have no idea about the above information. Lung cancer is the silent killer for more than one reason.
Good luck with your report and yes, I'm a little bit passionate about this cancer!
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3949
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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I totally agree with pbj. In addition, lung cancer has been associated with many environmental factors such as smoking, second hand smoking, pollution, and other toxins. I encourage everyone in the age range that your paper is written for to never start smoking and to do all they can throughout there lives to reduce air pollution.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1138
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: Some general questions! |
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Yes, sorry that I got on my soap-box -- it doesn't take much. 
But it's true that younger people think they are indestructible and the reality is that I'm seeing people as young as 27-28 dying from lung cancer who never smoked. It's a huge wake up call to youngsters. Other carcinogenics related to lung cancer are radon and diesel fumes. It's a rough world out there for lungs.
Another tid-bit that popped up in today's news is related to smoking marijuana and lung cancer and how it raises the risks quite a bit. You can do a search for this info -- it's scary, but important. I do like the new commercials for thetruth.com, which are aimed at educating young people to the dangers of cigarettes and how big tobacco needs to find replacement customers for all the ones that die from their products every year. Grim, but true.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3949
Location: Tennessee
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