NetWellness Cancer Genetics

Peace of Mind, Father`s Death

Duane Culler MS — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST

Question: I want to start by thanking you for your time. Here is my history/question.

My father died at age 47 after 14 months of being diagnosed with Cancer. I was in college and my Mom can't recall all the facts as to specifically the type. The death certificate stated "clear cell metastic carcino . . .

Answer: Without further information about the specific kind of cancer your father had, it is very difficult to give you a precise answer. In general, cancers occur at earlier ages in people with hereditary cancer susceptibily than in people with sporadic cancer, and your father was certainly youn . . .

Ask an Expert: Duane Culler MS, Cancer Genetics

Is Cancer Genetic

Duane Culler MS — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST

Question: There is a guy who I know, both his parents died of cancer when he was very young, i.e. both parents were less than 40 when they died of cancer. I don't know what type of cancer as I haven't had an opportunity to ask this question (it appears very rude). We both like each other but I am not sure if . . .

Answer: Without more detailed information it is impossible to answer your questions.

In most families with herditary cancer cancer susceptibility cancers develop at earlier ages. So when we learn about a cancer diagnosis at a young age, we generally think that there is l . . .

Ask an Expert: Duane Culler MS, Cancer Genetics

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Duane Culler MS — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:09:00 EST

Question:

My wife has NHL at 23 years old. She has no problem for 12 years in annual check ups. Her family do not have cancer history. I had read that for cancer with significant chance of inheritance or family clustering, the cancer usually occur in young age or has younger onset. However, I als . . .

Answer:

You are correct on both issues; in families with hereditary cancer susceptibility, cancers usually occur at earlier ages than is typical in the generally population. However, NHL and Hodgkins lymphoma are more common in younger individuals. So, in the absence of a significant family history . . .

Ask an Expert: Duane Culler MS, Cancer Genetics

FAP

Doreen Agnese MD — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:08:00 EST

Question: Hi, my father died from colon cancer, I`m 45 and FAP runs in my family....I was supposed to get a colonoscopy years ago but they wouldn`t do it without sedation (I`m allergic and had a terrible reaction in the past so I would never do it again)....so the test was never done. I started to have colon . . .

Answer:

It's not too late to worry about FAP. It sounds like you should have a colonoscopy right away, especially if you are having symptoms.

Ask an Expert: Doreen Agnese MD, Cancer Genetics

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Duane Culler MS — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:08:00 EST

Question: Dear sir /Madam, My elder sister had NHL 10 years ago, when she is 22 years old. Otherwise,there is no history of cancer in the family. She has no problem in annual check up. Is her son at an increased chance of NHL in view of her early onset?

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. A question similar to yours has been previously addressed. The link below will connect you to that information. NetWellness may also have some general information available that you can access through our