Is it really hereditary?

scaredofit · New User Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 4

I lost my mom to breast cancer almost 6 yrs ago. She passed away just 4 months after her diagnosis. She was 66. Since then, I've been trying to keep myself fit and I eat healthy foods as much as I can. I admit though that sometimes I do get tempted to eat junk foods. Truth is I get sick all the time. My immune system is weak so I get colds and allergies here and there. It's not as bad as before though. I don't drink and smoke. I have 2 young children and I want to stay healthy for them for as long as possible. I am 41. I had my first mammogram 2 yrs ago. It was clear. My doctor asked me last year to have a mammogram again. I didn't take it. I don't know....it's either I doubt how mammogram works or I'm scared, or both. I'm scheduled to see my doctor again for my annual next month. She's gonna ask me again to get a mammogram.

Is it really hereditary? I mean, there was nobody in my big family who had any type of cancer before my mom did. She was the first. I have 3 brothers so I know that they're thinking of me....that it could be a possibility someday. I remember once being in the hospital with my mom. I saw a mother and her adult daughter sitting at the waiting room. They both had mastectomy. I looked at my mom....weirdly. She had no reaction.

Could it just be poor diet? Is it really what you put inside your body? Is it the lifestyle? My mom never drank and smoked. What could have given her breast cancer? I don't want to get it one day but somehow I don't trust the conventional treatments. I think chemo is the most barbaric thing ever to be given to a human being. I've already decided that I if one day I get cancer, I would rather wait for my time to die than go through chemo. My mom was given 6 mos to live. After chemo and radiation, she only lasted 4 mos. To die with cancer is painful enough. Why let the person suffer more?

There's a lot of things on my mind. My father-in-law was just diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, Stage 3B (lung cancer). My husband is depressed. It brings back sad memories on my part. I want to stay strong for him but it's so sad. I hide my tears from him at night. I just learned that her grandpa had cancer but was a survivor until he passed away several years ago. My father-in-law was a heavy smoker over 20 yrs ago. I guess it's pay back time. I don't want to think that cancer is hereditary because there's no proof that it is but.... is it??? Should I go for that annual mammogram? I don't know what I'm feeling. I want to tell my husband to not let his father undergo chemo cause it's just going to spread out and could kill him sooner. I don't know. I'm keeping everything to myself. I'm scared for my father-in-law and I feel sorry for my husband.
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Muttsmom · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Is it really hereditary?

Hi,

First, I'm sorry that you lost your mom to this horrible disease!!!

And, yes, you should get an annual mammgram, and if you have a family history of BC, you are at higher risk. With that said, don't just count on a mammogram, also do self breast examines. I was 43 when Dx and had NO history of cancer of any kind that I know of for at least 2 generations. I was the 1st with breast cancer. My mammogram missed mine and it was 5.5 cm. They don't catch all BC, but they are the best thing we have now, and definitely worth having one. If you notice a lump, even if your mammogram doesn't find anything, don't stop there. Go to a surgeon and get a biopsy done.

Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is never a bad thing, and can only help your overall health, but it doesn't make you immune to breast cancer. I asked why I got BC when there was no history is my family and the answer I got 5+ years ago, was because I had hormones. Not all BC feeds off hormones, but about 80% of dx's do.

Being afraid is understandable, but not doing anything just makes the prognosis worse because the cancer has time to grow and spread. Mine wasn't caught early, but I'm still here 5+ years later and plan on staying around Smile

But, caught early, the prognosis is much better and the treatment isn't as aggressive. My bio is at the bottom.

Best wishes and be proactive with you health care and get the tests that are available along with monthly self exams.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: UK

There can be a hereditary link in breast cancer, but in your case it seems unlikely that there is one. As to what triggers it, that is the great question that thousands of scientists are trying to answer. Genetics and hormones are two strong suspects.

As Muttsmom says, eating a good diet is always a good thing, and being aware of your own body is vital. Equally, worrying about whether you are developing cancer is a negative activity. Try not to think about it. It sometimes seems that everyone is developing it, but in fact statistically there are many more people who do not have cancer that do have it.

As to treatments, don't knock chemo - it can be unpleasant, but it has kept me alive. The nasty effects are relatively temporary, and if the cancer is stopped in its tracks, it is worth it.

With reference to your father-in-law, Primary lung cancers are very difficult as they are generally not diagnosed until late in their development, when it becomes impossible to use surgery. There are new treatments being tested which are showing good results.

The essential thing with bc is early diagnosis. The quicker it is caught, the better. If your doctor wants you to have regular mammograms, then go with it. But also ask about ultrasound testing as an alternative.

Muttsmom · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Is it really hereditary?

I think chemo is the most barbaric thing ever to be given to a human being. I've already decided that I if one day I get cancer, I would rather wait for my time to die than go through chemo

Somehow I missed this part. As someone who went through chemo, I don't think of it as barbaric in the least. It's doable and it's what has kept me here and doing great. My guess is if your mom passed away after 4 months, her cancer had spread to her bones or organ(s). There are many ladies that have Stage IV BC and are doing goot many years later. Sadly, like my best friend, not everyone makes it, but without chemo, people like me with a Stage III dx, wouldn't have a chance.

Also, I have to say something that Lance Armstong said and I couldn't agree more. Whether someone smokes, use to smoke or whatever, NO ONE deserves to get lung cancer, so I don't feel it's "payback" time.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

scaredofit · New User Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 4

Thank you for your responses, Muttsmom and Vee Smith. It gave me some sort of courage and strength. It's hard to come back in this forum because everytime I read through the questions and experiences of other members, it just breaks me down.

[quote ="Muttsmom"] I was 43 when Dx and had NO history of cancer of any kind that I know of for at least 2 generations. I was the 1st with breast cancer. [/quote]

Does this mean it really is not heridetary? I feel so ignorant. What's up with women's hormones that some women get BC and some of them don't? That's strange.

[quote="Vee Smith"] As to treatments, don't knock chemo - it can be unpleasant, but it has kept me alive. The nasty effects are relatively temporary, and if the cancer is stopped in its tracks, it is worth it.[/quote]

I don't know. Maybe for Stage I and II. When my mom was suffering from chemo side effects, I wished I was the one in her position. It was such a heart-breaking experience. I wish I could have done something to take away her pain. Is it advisable for BC victims to still undergo chemo if they are already in Stage IV of it?
_________________
*** Live like it's your last day on earth ***

brainman · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: Is it really hereditary?

Hi scaredofit, I too am very sorry about your mother's death!! It is such a terrible disease Sad

There is not a one to one correlation between family history of BC and your likelihood of getting BC. Some women with mothers, grandmother, aunts, and cousins with BC never develop BC themselves. Others with no history of anyone in their family having BC get it. Having said that, women who come from families with a history of BC ARE at a higher risk of developing BC sometime in their life. It is not an absolute certainty, it is just a higher probability.

Keep us informed. God bless you.
_________________
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/

Muttsmom · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Is it really hereditary?

Hi,

Many Stage I ladies get chemo because there is no way to know if a lumpectomy or mastectomy got all the cancer cells, even with no node involvement. My best friend was Stage IV and she got a lot of the chemos that women who aren't Stage IV get. Not many, but a few have a rough time with chemo. I know one lady that did and they had to switch the kinds of chemo she was taking. Sadly it sounds like your mom was one of the very few Sad

I know ladies who's mom had BC and they also were dx down the road. It accounts for about 15% of all BC dx. Many get dx with no family history. About 80% (could be a little more or less since I was dx) of ladies dx have cancer that feeds off hormones. I was told I got it because I had hormones, but there are ladies that are estrogen/progesterine negative, meaning their cancer didn't feed on hormones. They have come a long way, but a LOT is yet to be learned.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

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