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← Return to Video Q&A about Screening and Treatment Options for Gynecologic Cancers
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Video Q&A about Screening and Treatment Options for Gynecologic Cancers
Event Date: September 24, 2018 | 12:00pm - 12:30pm CT
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My half-sister (via mother) was only 22 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and had her organs removed, spiraling her to early menopause.
My question is: I wondered if there's a genetic predisposition? Does her cancer increase the likelihood that my daughters and I could get cervical cancer? What do those numbers look like?
What about her two daughters?
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Also, is there any connection of cervical cancer to breast cancer? My daughters' grandmother (their father's side) has had ductal breast cancer twice and their great-grandmother (her mother) died of breast cancer in her 60's.
Thank you!
Replies to "My half-sister (via mother) was only 22 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and had..."
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Here is Dr. Dinh's reply: No, cervical cancer is not thought to be genetically determined. Thus, there is no risk at all for you to develop cervical cancer, simply because your half-sister had been diagnosed. The cause of the vast majority of cervical cancer is infection with the HPV virus. This virus is very common in the human population. Approximately 80% of men and women have been infected with this virus at some point in their lives. However, we still do not know why some people develop cervical cancer and the vast majority do not. The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to do cervical cancer screening. In the United States, that is done with Pap smears and HPV testing. These tests are exceedingly good, and they have led to a significant decrease in cervical cancer rates over the last several decades. In regards to daughters, if they are between the ages of 9 and 26, a very good way to prevent cervical cancer is the HPV vaccine. This vaccine actually is recommended for boys between those ages as well. There are no proven significant side effects to the vaccine, i.e, they are incredibly safe, and can prevent a potentially terrible medical condition from occurring in the first place.