3 mother and child discovered cancer
A regular health check-up of her daughter suddenly "opened" a heartbreaking tragedy, when both parents and children in a family in Hanoi were diagnosed with cancer. The story is a strong warning about the increasingly important role of genetic factors in this dangerous disease.
The above information was shared by Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, Director of the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) at the conference on Cancer Genetics organized by Bach Mai Hospital on June 14.
Doctor Phuong recounted that it was initially a woman over 20 years old in Hanoi. She went for a general health check-up and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She was immediately transferred to the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology for treatment.
During the examination and treatment, doctors at the Center provided in-depth advice on cancer genetic screening. They encourage other family members, including parents and younger siblings, to also get a health check. The results were really surprising: both the patient's mother and younger brother were also diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Currently, the medical team is planning a comprehensive treatment for both parents and children. At the same time, they also conduct in-depth genetic screening tests. The goal is to be able to take early preventive measures to prevent the risk of developing other types of cancer in the future.
Genetic cancer: No longer a rare thing
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Tung - Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital - said that hereditary cancer accounts for 5-15% of all cancer cases. These are cancers that are directly linked to genetic changes. These changes often affect genes that control cell division and DNA repair, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation.
Common forms of hereditary cancer include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Early detection of genetic changes is extremely important. It helps people with genetic diseases and their families proactively take preventive measures or conduct periodic health check-ups, thereby detecting cancer at an early stage, increasing the chance of successful treatment and prolonging life.
Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Cam Phuong analyzed a number of types of cancer such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer that have been shown to be related to gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
People who carry genetic changes from their parents are at a significantly earlier risk of cancer than those who do not carry the gene.
Associate Professor Phuong gave examples of breast cancer and lung cancer cases in young people. Specifically, breast cancer often occurs in women over the age of 60, but if they have a genetic change, they can get sick much earlier. In fact, many cases of breast cancer in the age group of 30-40 have been tested and detected to have genetic changes.
"According to statistics, up to 5-15% of breast cancer patients and about 20% of ovarian cancer patients have genetic factors," Associate Professor Phuong emphasized.
