does lung cancer have a genetic component?
Jun 28, 2010 in
Mesothelioma FAQs
my grandfather was just diagnosed with lung cancer.
he quit smoking years ago.
i jUST quit…
is there a genetic component to lung cancer?
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2 comments
nageshanilayaprathama on June 28, 2010 at 7:18 am
-Also there are other reasons for cancer ,hence ,analysis of your family lifestyle may give some clue to cancer origin & control
H on June 28, 2010 at 7:18 am
Not really, to be honest. I mean we don’t know for sure, but there is no verified "lung cancer gene". Cigarette smoking is most likely the reason your grandfather developed the lung cancer, so it’s good that you quit.
From the Merck Manual:
Respiratory epithelial cells require prolonged exposure to cancer-promoting agents and the accumulations of multiple genetic mutations before becoming cancerous. The mutated genes are K-RAS, MYC, HER2/neu, BCL-2, p53, APC etc.
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These genes are in every cell and control cell division, so mutation in them makes cells divide too quickly. But the vast, vast majority of these mutations are spontaneous, not hereditary, and if they’re hereditary the affected develop cancer very early, not at your grandfather’s age. So you’re probably alright.