Is cancer hereditary if multiple family members were diagnosed at old age?

Question

There are few people in my family who had different types of cancer but they were all quite old when diagnosed. Does this mean cancer is hereditary in our family or it can just be coincidence?

Pristyn Care Team · Accepted Answer

Having multiple family members with cancer does not necessarily mean it is hereditary, especially if they were all diagnosed at an older age, as cancer becomes more common with aging.
Hereditary cancer syndromes are more strongly suggested when cancers occur at younger ages, in multiple generations, or involve specific cancer types clustering together.
However, a family history of cancer is still worth discussing with a doctor or genetic counselor, who can assess your personal risk and recommend appropriate screening or genetic testing if needed.

Is cancer hereditary if multiple family members were diagnosed at old age?

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Still have questions?

Is cancer hereditary if multiple family members were diagnosed at old age?

Answers (1)

Still have questions?

Still have questions?

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