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About Cancer

united_1987

Just wanted to know that can Cancer be caught? Can any type of cancer be caught, or can it only be passed on through inherting it from a family member?

Cheerz

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

No types of cancer can be caught. And most cancer isn't caused by inheriting it, most are spontaneous mutations in cells.

Reply 2

Comp_Genius

Depends what you mean by 'cause', some cancers have a higher probability of occuring if you are exposed to an infectious agent such as a virus/bacteria.

Reply 3

Happy1

You cant CATCH cancer as far as i know... its not generally hereditary either, you just have a higher chance of getting it if your close family have had it.

Reply 4

kateykat

It can be inherited, yes, but just because it generally tends to run in the family it doesn't necessarily mean that you will definitely get it. Your risk increases depending on the number of people in your immediate family who have developed the same type of cancer and the age at which they were diagnosed. This is because a mutant gene can be passed down through generations. For example, If there is a tendancy in the family for women to die at a young age of breast cancer then it can be considered hereditary and it's important for young women to consult a genetic counsellor to determine just how much at risk they are. The risk increases by a certain percentage for each person who develops the cancer. If one immediate family has the cancer then your risk is something like 5% greater than normal, if another person has had it then the risk is about 15% greater than normal...so on so forth.