If my mother has lung cancer, will it be inherited?

Lung cancer has become one of the biggest invisible killers of human beings. It hides very well and once diagnosed, it is already in the late stage. Therefore, people are very afraid of lung cancer. If there is a lung cancer patient in the family, they are afraid that he will inherit it. So is lung cancer hereditary?

Scientists point out that congenital genetic genes and acquired dietary habits, living environment, occupation, etc. are all related to the onset of cancer, and acquired factors play a major role. Even people with a genetic tendency to lung cancer need the continuous action of the external environment to form tumors. Therefore, as long as a reasonable lifestyle and appropriate dietary habits are adopted, the occurrence of cancer can be effectively prevented. The same is true for lung cancer. As long as you pay attention to not actively and passively smoking, avoid the influence of polluted ambient air, and avoid the influence of occupational carcinogenic factors (such as asbestos, chromium, nickel, and arsenic), even if lung cancer is confirmed to be hereditary, the incidence of lung cancer can be greatly reduced. Cancer is not an infectious disease. Its hereditary nature refers to genetic susceptibility, that is, the offspring of parents with cancer are more likely to get cancer than others. Of course, this probability is also very low; but it is not certain. Cancer is originally a low-probability disease, and many cancers such as lung cancer are closely related to lifestyle. Therefore, it is recommended not to worry about the inheritance of lung cancer and establish a good lifestyle.

The transformation of normal cells into tumor cells is based on the genetic disorder of genomic changes, but whether this change can eventually evolve into clinically observed cancer is also determined by various environmental carcinogens and other internal factors that initiate the action, including anti-cancer genes, growth factors, growth factor receptors, chromosome stability, etc. More and more evidence shows that genetic characteristics can change the risk of lung cancer in individuals, because the metabolites of carcinogens can cause malignant changes, and the pathways for producing metabolites are determined by genetics, including lung cancer caused by smoking and occupational damage. The results of family surveys show that non-smokers with a family history (lung cancer patients in the family) have a higher risk of lung cancer than those without a family history. The potential mechanism of this familial aggregation has been under study. It is now speculated that genetic factors determine the ability to metabolize carcinogens, which may play an important role in changing the risk of lung cancer.

Studies have shown that the induction of aromatase in lung cancer patients is greatly enhanced. The concentration of this enzyme is controlled by genes, and it can activate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds contained in tobacco into potential carcinogens. Although the molecular and genetic events of lung cancer pathogenesis are active areas of research, there is no definite genetic change to explain the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, there is no definite statement on the inheritance of lung cancer.

Through the above introduction, we know that there is still no definite explanation for the heredity of lung cancer, so people who have lung cancer in their families don’t need to be so afraid. As long as you pay attention to developing good living habits in your daily life, there should be no problem.