Pancreatic and duodenal cancers genetic lin:

All:

I am concerned about my 18 year old son, Luke. His father (he and I had been divorced since Luke was 3 years old) Neil passed away two years ago from adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. He was 47 years old. He went into the hospital, they diagnosed it...did surgery and the cancer was all over his abdominal cavity. They closed him up. He never came home from the hospital and died there three months later. His mother, Luke's paternal grandmother died at 42 years old from pancreatic cancer. From the time they diagnosed her until the day she died? Three weeks.

My father has had rectal cancer. He has done well and is cancer free. I am 47 and had colon polyps removed 4 years ago....I'm going in Tuesday for another colonoscopy.

When I asked my physician, the colon doc about the "coincidence" of both Luke's father and grandmother dying of cancers which are considered "almost the same"...he told me that "duodenal cancer is very rare and his chances are no more than anyone elses". He told me that my colon polyp tendency was a more likely worry for him. I realize that my father's history and my history are a concern...but pancreatic and duodenal cancer are SOOO much more deadly.

Can someone please tell me if they have heard of genetic testing, screening, etc...that should be started on Luke...I just don't believe this is all a coincidence!

P.S. I am a long-term survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma...30 years! I belong the that cancer forum but would like to be a part of this group too...on behalf of my son.

Thanks so much for listening.

Amy
HD Survivor 1976