Family History?

LISAinTN
LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
in Kidney Cancer #1
I had my 6 month results today and my tests were all clear! While I am happy about that and I plan to live my life like I'm cancer free, my urologist has concerns for a higher recurrence rate for me due to the fact that I am fairly young to have kidney cancer and I have a family history. My paternal grandfather died of kidney cancer that went to his brain. This has got me wondering, does anyone else here have a family history of kidney cancer? My son is 26 years old and just had a baseline ultrasound so they can keep an eye on him. He will be tested every 2 years. I'm concerned for my sister, too, so I wanted to ask about family histories of kidney cancer. Thanks!

Blessings,
Lisa
«13

Comments

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #2
    Cancer history
    Congrats on your test results Lisa! Don't go leaving us now. Some of us will need your support. Although I am not aware of any other kidney cancer in my family, Both my sister and mother passed away due to complications from renal failure. Is there a relationship? Who knows. We probably all drank from the same well.
  • tom_in_VT
    tom_in_VT Member Posts: 25
    #3
    Very Good!!!
    I am happy you received such good news at your 6 month check ups. That's great, live big! No kidney issues in my family at all, my mother had a problem with ovarian cancer when I was very young, that's the only cancer I am aware of in my immediate family.
    Again, great news - have a glass of your favorite adult beverage!!!
    Toast the fight you have fought and are wining!

    Regards,
    Tom
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #4
    tom_in_VT said:

    Very Good!!!
    I am happy you received such good news at your 6 month check ups. That's great, live big! No kidney issues in my family at all, my mother had a problem with ovarian cancer when I was very young, that's the only cancer I am aware of in my immediate family.
    Again, great news - have a glass of your favorite adult beverage!!!
    Toast the fight you have fought and are wining!

    Regards,
    Tom

    Genetics
    Lisa, good news indeed and long may it continue.

    Wouldn't you be better asking your urologist why he thinks family history is significant, rather than collecting anecdotal evidence on these threads? I, for instance, have no idea about my own family medical history, having uncles and aunts who died in the '70s - that's the 1870s (my Father died 46 years ago and had 15 older siblings).

    I believe the trend of research is towards finding an increasing proportion of renal cancer cases which are inherited so your urologist's cautiousness maybe makes sense. So you may be wise to reckon 'better safe than sorry' and have family members checked as appropriate.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #5
    Texas_wedge said:

    Genetics
    Lisa, good news indeed and long may it continue.

    Wouldn't you be better asking your urologist why he thinks family history is significant, rather than collecting anecdotal evidence on these threads? I, for instance, have no idea about my own family medical history, having uncles and aunts who died in the '70s - that's the 1870s (my Father died 46 years ago and had 15 older siblings).

    I believe the trend of research is towards finding an increasing proportion of renal cancer cases which are inherited so your urologist's cautiousness maybe makes sense. So you may be wise to reckon 'better safe than sorry' and have family members checked as appropriate.

    Family history
    Lisa, Mike has flagged up the CTCA site where there is a vast amount of useful information, including this piece on hereditary aspects of kidney cancer:

    http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/news/family-affair.cfm

    I hope you may find this helpful in giving you a little more background on the question.
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #6
    Texas_wedge said:

    Family history
    Lisa, Mike has flagged up the CTCA site where there is a vast amount of useful information, including this piece on hereditary aspects of kidney cancer:

    http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/news/family-affair.cfm

    I hope you may find this helpful in giving you a little more background on the question.

    The fam
    Lisa,

    My father had kidney cancer at age 49; I was diagnosed at age 47. Being diagnosed with kidney cancer before the age of 50 can sometimes point to a genetic factor. Having a family member diagnosed with it also before age 50 increases those odds. I was tested for Von Hippel lindau disease last year because of this. It is only one genetic cause of kidney cancer. I do not have it. I was told that they believe there are most likely other genetic factors that just haven't been discovered yet. My son is 23 and he will also start scans when he is in his mid thirties. Who knows, maybe someday they will find another genetic mutation. I plan on staying vigilant for my own health, my son's health and future research. Great news on your scan!!
    Rae
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #7
    Texas_wedge said:

    Family history
    Lisa, Mike has flagged up the CTCA site where there is a vast amount of useful information, including this piece on hereditary aspects of kidney cancer:

    http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/news/family-affair.cfm

    I hope you may find this helpful in giving you a little more background on the question.

    History
    Lisa,

    Congrats on the NED and here is to many many more. There have been various cancers in my family (thankfully all survivors so far), but I am the first with RCC. Oddly, I have known several people with RCC including my father in-law, but no blood relatives.

    Rock on,

    Gary
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #8
    garym said:

    History
    Lisa,

    Congrats on the NED and here is to many many more. There have been various cancers in my family (thankfully all survivors so far), but I am the first with RCC. Oddly, I have known several people with RCC including my father in-law, but no blood relatives.

    Rock on,

    Gary

    another link
    I had to jump on the laptop as navigating my smartphone from the comforts of my bed proved to be difficult :)

    I have a link also about genetics and kidney cancer. This information was also explained to me by my genetic counselor last September. She said my kidney cancer could be a fluke but most likely not due to our ages and being immediate family. Just because they haven't found the genetic cause doesn't mean there isn't one.

    http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Genetics/The+Genetics+of+Kidney+Cancer

    Best,

    Rae
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #9
    rae_rae said:

    another link
    I had to jump on the laptop as navigating my smartphone from the comforts of my bed proved to be difficult :)

    I have a link also about genetics and kidney cancer. This information was also explained to me by my genetic counselor last September. She said my kidney cancer could be a fluke but most likely not due to our ages and being immediate family. Just because they haven't found the genetic cause doesn't mean there isn't one.

    http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Genetics/The+Genetics+of+Kidney+Cancer

    Best,

    Rae

    genetics
    I know they have been doing genetic testing on me as part of my clinical trial. My daughter has already stated that she will watch carefully as she is considered my little clone by my wife. We often have the same aches and pains. My wife rolls her eyes.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #10
    foxhd said:

    genetics
    I know they have been doing genetic testing on me as part of my clinical trial. My daughter has already stated that she will watch carefully as she is considered my little clone by my wife. We often have the same aches and pains. My wife rolls her eyes.

    genetics
    Anyway I guess your Wife will be quite content if your Daughter is foxy?
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #11
    Texas_wedge said:

    genetics
    Anyway I guess your Wife will be quite content if your Daughter is foxy?

    daughter
    They call here "Lttle Larry". Sometimes my wife will have been talking to my daughter and several hours later out of the blue, I'll say the same thing. Or vice-versa. Drives my wife nuts.
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #12
    foxhd said:

    Cancer history
    Congrats on your test results Lisa! Don't go leaving us now. Some of us will need your support. Although I am not aware of any other kidney cancer in my family, Both my sister and mother passed away due to complications from renal failure. Is there a relationship? Who knows. We probably all drank from the same well.

    I won't leave, Fox! :o)
    Thanks, Fox! I won't leave. :o)
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #13
    Texas_wedge said:

    Genetics
    Lisa, good news indeed and long may it continue.

    Wouldn't you be better asking your urologist why he thinks family history is significant, rather than collecting anecdotal evidence on these threads? I, for instance, have no idea about my own family medical history, having uncles and aunts who died in the '70s - that's the 1870s (my Father died 46 years ago and had 15 older siblings).

    I believe the trend of research is towards finding an increasing proportion of renal cancer cases which are inherited so your urologist's cautiousness maybe makes sense. So you may be wise to reckon 'better safe than sorry' and have family members checked as appropriate.

    Hi
    Hi TX, I'm just asking out of curiosity. Just wondering if this tends to run in families. My Doc is concerned as it's been in my family and don't a lot of cancer's run in families? I've always thought it significant if there's a history of a cancer in a family.

    I've already put out the word to my very large extended family that they are supposed to get baseline ultrasounds of their kidney's so they can keep an eye on it. Although, most don't seem to be taking it seriously.

    Blessings,
    Lisa
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #14
    Texas_wedge said:

    Genetics
    Lisa, good news indeed and long may it continue.

    Wouldn't you be better asking your urologist why he thinks family history is significant, rather than collecting anecdotal evidence on these threads? I, for instance, have no idea about my own family medical history, having uncles and aunts who died in the '70s - that's the 1870s (my Father died 46 years ago and had 15 older siblings).

    I believe the trend of research is towards finding an increasing proportion of renal cancer cases which are inherited so your urologist's cautiousness maybe makes sense. So you may be wise to reckon 'better safe than sorry' and have family members checked as appropriate.

    Hmmm
    Hmmmm, my reply kept going in the wrong place. Oh well. lol Anyway, thanks for the interesting replies. I will check out the links. Thanks again!

    Blessings,
    Lisa
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #15
    LISAinTN said:

    Hi
    Hi TX, I'm just asking out of curiosity. Just wondering if this tends to run in families. My Doc is concerned as it's been in my family and don't a lot of cancer's run in families? I've always thought it significant if there's a history of a cancer in a family.

    I've already put out the word to my very large extended family that they are supposed to get baseline ultrasounds of their kidney's so they can keep an eye on it. Although, most don't seem to be taking it seriously.

    Blessings,
    Lisa

    Family history
    Yes, the short answer is that some forms of kidney cancer do run in families and current thinking is that maybe that applies in more cases than the experts had supposed. So you should heed your urologist's advice and have your nearest and dearest get checked out regularly.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #16
    LISAinTN said:

    Hi
    Hi TX, I'm just asking out of curiosity. Just wondering if this tends to run in families. My Doc is concerned as it's been in my family and don't a lot of cancer's run in families? I've always thought it significant if there's a history of a cancer in a family.

    I've already put out the word to my very large extended family that they are supposed to get baseline ultrasounds of their kidney's so they can keep an eye on it. Although, most don't seem to be taking it seriously.

    Blessings,
    Lisa

    Family history
    Yes, the short answer is that some forms of kidney cancer do run in families and current thinking is that maybe that applies in more cases than the experts had supposed. So you should heed your urologist's advice and have your nearest and dearest get checked out regularly.
  • Vagusto
    Vagusto Member Posts: 86
    #17
    Father
    Hi Lisa

    I was 46 when diagnosed with kidney cancer. As most, it was caught on accident.
    My Father passed 6 years ago from it. Neither his Urologist, or mine said anything
    about the possibilities of his children getting it. MY Urologist said that my family doctor
    should've been doing regular scans as kidney cancer is hereditary. My two Brothers
    have since been in for ultrasounds. I'm encouraging my adult children to also do it.
    I sometimes wonder why doctors offices take family history information if they
    don't do anything with it.
    Valerie
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #18
    Vagusto said:

    Father
    Hi Lisa

    I was 46 when diagnosed with kidney cancer. As most, it was caught on accident.
    My Father passed 6 years ago from it. Neither his Urologist, or mine said anything
    about the possibilities of his children getting it. MY Urologist said that my family doctor
    should've been doing regular scans as kidney cancer is hereditary. My two Brothers
    have since been in for ultrasounds. I'm encouraging my adult children to also do it.
    I sometimes wonder why doctors offices take family history information if they
    don't do anything with it.
    Valerie

    About age
    I was 50 years old when I was dx,so I have a question is fifty years consider to be young and if so I have a son who is 21,when would be a good age for my son to start getting checked.
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #19
    Limelife50 said:

    About age
    I was 50 years old when I was dx,so I have a question is fifty years consider to be young and if so I have a son who is 21,when would be a good age for my son to start getting checked.

    Good question...
    I was just wondering about that myself, I was 58 at dx just over 2 years ago, my kids are 36, 35, 33, & 30. I think I'll ask my doc at the next checkup and advise my kids to do the same. Seems like a good place to start anyway.
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #20
    Testing
    Valerie, I was 46 when I was diagnosed, too. Limelife and Gary, I think 50 and under is considered young. (I remember when I was in my teens and early 20's and wanted to be older. Now I'm thrilled to be called young. LOL)

    My son is 26 and my urologist ordered a baseline ultrasound for him and he will be retested every 2 years. I am so glad they are keeping an eye on him this often. My urologist also recommended that all my blood relations on my paternal Grandfather's side be tested as it seems to have started with him in his 60's and now me in my 40's. This article that Rae posted earlier is really good regarding this.

    http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Genetics/The+Genetics+of+Kidney+Cancer

    From what I can gather, my close relations have a 50% higher chance of getting kidney cancer because I was so young when I got it. My son was not thrilled about being tested, but I asked him to do it for me. I think he took it more seriously after meeting with the urologist himself and hearing what he had to say. It's a load off of me to have them following him like this.

    Blessings,
    Lisa
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #21
    Limelife50 said:

    About age
    I was 50 years old when I was dx,so I have a question is fifty years consider to be young and if so I have a son who is 21,when would be a good age for my son to start getting checked.

    Testing
    Limelife,

    I answered below, but was thinking about your question more. If I were you and I could talk my doctor into testing my son at 21, I would! Particularly because this cancer seems to be so sneaky and the fact that it doesn't seem to show itself until it's almost too late a lot of the times. There are so many of us here where our cancer was found while looking for something else. If I wouldn't have had my diverticulitis attack, who knows how long it might have been before I ever needed a scan? Instead of it being the size of a cherry tomato when they found it, it could have been the size of a miniature football like my Grandfather's. If they will test your son, I'd have it done now. I just feel like better safe then sorry.

    Blessings,
    Lisa

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