Other cancer

Although the most common genetic mutations cause the highest increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, you can be at higher risk of other cancers depending on your family history and gene mutation.

Prostate cancer

What is prostate cancer?

The prostate, a small gland found only in men, is located at the base of the bladder. As men grow older, especially over the age of 50, the prostate normally gets bigger. This enlargement can block the passage of urine, causing problems. While this is commonly due to a non-cancerous enlargement, prostate cancer may also cause these problems.

Prostate cancer is a common disease with about 1 in 6 (17%) Australian men expected to develop prostate cancer before the age of 70. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men over 55 years of age and rarely occurs before the age of 50.

What causes prostate cancer?

There is no single cause for prostate cancer. There are several risk factors which can influence someone’s chance of developing prostate cancer. The most important are:

• Being a man
• Getting older. More than two-thirds (70%) of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65
• Having a strong or significant family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer.

Can prostate cancer be inherited?

Approximately 5 - 10% of prostate cancers are due to a gene mutation inherited from either the father or mother. A gene mutation increases the risk of cancer, but even then, it does not mean every family member will develop the cancer.

A family history of prostate cancer means having one or more close blood relatives who have or have had prostate cancer.

Relatives could be on either the father’s or the mother’s side of the family.

The closest male blood relatives (not relatives by marriage) are fathers, brothers and sons and are called first-degree relatives. Uncles, nephews and grandfathers are second-degree relatives.

A family history of cancer can be due to:

• Chance, because cancer is common
• Common environmental and lifestyle factors among family members
• Having shared genetic factors such as a gene mutation which is related to cancer.

Prostate cancer is common with many men having relatives who have or had prostate cancer. Such men may be only slightly above the average risk. Some men have a ‘stronger’ family history where a number of their close male blood relatives have or had prostate cancer. Depending on the strength of the family history, the man may be at moderate or potentially high risk of developing prostate cancer.

What is prostate cancer screening?

Prostate cancer screening involves a PSA test usually every two years starting from age 50 however for those with a significant family history of cancer or known gene mutation, it is recommended to start from age 40. It’s best to discuss your personal situation with your doctor to work out a screening plan for your individual circumstances. 

For more information on family history and prostate cancer see the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia’s website.

Read more about genetic testing here.

For more information on prostate cancer please visit Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia.

Pancreatic cancer

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably, forming tumours. There are two main types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine and endocrine tumours.

Exocrine tumours make up about 95% of all pancreatic cancers and originate from enzyme-producing cells, commonly known as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). These aggressive tumours are difficult to treat and have a poor prognosis. They often begin in the cells lining the pancreas' ducts.

Endocrine tumours, also called neuroendocrine tumours, account for approximately 5% of all pancreatic cancers. They start in hormone-producing cells and tend to be less aggressive than exocrine tumours, resulting in a better prognosis overall.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

Most cancers occur by chance when our cells become damaged. About 1 out of every 100 people (1%) will get pancreatic cancer. Some lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol, and being overweight increase the chance of getting pancreatic cancer. 

A small number (about 5-10%) of all pancreatic cancers have a genetic cause. Sometimes a gene mutation is found that explains why these families get cancer. 

Other families have “familial pancreatic cancer”, which means that they have a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, but genetic testing has not been done, or a gene mutation has not been found.

Can pancreatic cancer be inherited?

The majority of pancreatic cancer cases are considered to be random, or ‘sporadic’ occurrences. However, having a strong family history of pancreatic cancer is one of the few known risk factors. 

It is estimated that 5-10% of all cases of pancreatic cancer are hereditary. In some cases, this is attributed to established inherited cancer syndromes, where a known gene mutation is present in the family. 

The underlying genetic cause of pancreatic cancer in most families remains unknown, and this is termed Familial Pancreatic Cancer (FPC). FPC is defined by family history and describes kindreds with at least one pair of first-degree relatives affected (i.e. parent-child or sibling relationship). 

The Australian Pancreatic Genome Initiative has further information on the different inheritable aspects of pancreatic cancer. You can access it here Inherited Pancreatic Cancer. 

You can also read about the Pancreatic Cancer Familial Screening Program here.

If you are concerned about your family history of pancreatic cancer, talk to your GP about obtaining a referral to your local Genetic Service. 

Read more about genetic testing here.

For more information on pancreatic cancer please visit Pancare Australia and PanKind Australia.

Melanoma

What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer which usually develops when moles become cancerous. In Australia, about 1 in 20 (5%) people will develop melanoma by the age of about 80 years. The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, but it affects people of all age groups. Melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in young adults.

A very small number (estimated at 1% - 2%) of the cases of melanoma in Australia involve an inherited gene mutation which stops the cancer protection gene working properly. 

Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin – even areas that do not get exposed to the sun. In men, it is often found on the trunk (the area from the shoulders to the hips) or the head and neck and in women, on the lower legs.

When skin is exposed to the sun, the skin produces more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken. When these spots and surrounding tissue form benign (non-cancerous) growths they are called moles. Most moles will remain benign (harmless) and not develop into melanoma.

What causes melanoma?

There is no single cause for melanoma. There are, however, several risk factors which can influence someone’s chance of developing melanoma.
The most important are:

• Sun exposure
• The number of moles a person has
• The colour of a person’s skin. A person who is fair-skinned is much more susceptible to skin damage and melanoma from sun exposure than someone with darker skin
• Having a family history of melanoma.

Can melanoma be inherited?

A family history of melanoma means having one or more close blood relatives who have or have had melanoma. Relatives could be on either the father’s or the mother’s side of the family

The closest blood relatives (not relatives by marriage) are parents, siblings and children and are called first-degree relatives. Aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and grandparents are second-degree relatives.

A family history of melanoma can be due to:

• Chance
• Common environmental and lifestyle factors among family members including where a family lives, sun exposure and lifestyle.
• Having shared genetic factors, such as having the same skin colouring. 
• Inherited risk may also be due to an inherited gene mutation in the family which increases the risk of melanoma.

The Centre for Genetics Information has more information on Inherited Susceptibility of Melanoma 

Read more about genetic testing.

Can melanoma be inherited?

A family history of melanoma means having one or more close blood relatives who have or have had melanoma. Relatives could be on either the father’s or the mother’s side of the family

The closest blood relatives (not relatives by marriage) are parents, siblings and children and are called first-degree relatives. Aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and grandparents are second-degree relatives.

A family history of melanoma can be due to:

• Chance
• Common environmental and lifestyle factors among family members including where a family lives, sun exposure and lifestyle.
• Having shared genetic factors, such as having the same skin colouring. 
• Inherited risk may also be due to an inherited gene mutation in the family which increases the risk of melanoma.

The Centre for Genetics Information has more information on Inherited Susceptibility of Melanoma 

Read more about genetic testing here

For more information on melanoma please visit Melanoma Institute Australia.

Bowel cancer

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer generally refers to cancer of the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum, and is therefore also known as colorectal cancer. Bowel cancer develops from the inner lining of the bowel and is usually preceded by growths called polyps, which may become invasive cancer if undetected. Bowel cancer is a common disease in the community. About 1 in 14 (7%) men and women will develop bowel cancer by the age of 85 years. 

A small number of cases (about 5%-10%) in Australia involve an inherited risk in developing bowel cancer. 

What causes bowel cancer?

There is no single cause of bowel cancer. There are, however, several risk factors which can influence someone’s chance of developing bowel cancer. The risk is greater if you:  

• Are over 50 years, although bowel cancer can occur at any age
• Have had an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis 
• Have previously had special types of polyps, called adenomas, in the bowel 
• Have previously had any type of bowel cancer 
• Have a family history of bowel cancer.

A family history of bowel cancer means having one or more close blood relatives who have, or have had, bowel cancer. The closest blood relatives (not relatives by marriage) are parents, siblings and children and are called first-degree relatives. Aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and grandparents are second degree relatives.

A family history of cancer can be due to:

• Chance
• Common environmental and lifestyle factors among family members
• Having shared genetic factors, such as an inherited mutated gene in the family which increases the risk of bowel cancer.

What causes bowel cancer?

Many people know of a relative with bowel cancer just because bowel cancer is common. Such people may still be at average or slightly above the average risk for developing bowel cancer.  Some people have a stronger family history where a number of their close blood relatives have had bowel cancer, and /or they were diagnosed at a young age.

Depending on the pattern of cancers in the family, these people may be considered at moderate or potentially high risk of developing bowel cancer. If you have a strong family history of bowel cancer, it is good to speak to your GP who can refer you to a Genetic Service for assessment should it be warranted. 

Inherited gene mutations related to increased risk of bowel cancer

There are several gene mutations which can increase your risk of bowel cancer. It is recommended that people and their relatives with the inherited gene mutations outlined below seek management advice from a Genetic Service or medical specialist. National guidelines for healthcare professionals exist at the Cancer Institute NSW eviQ website.

• FAP (Familial adenomatous polyposis)
  

  People who have an adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene variant need regular bowel check-ups by having a colonoscopy from their early teenage years. Eventually they will need an operation to remove their bowel to prevent bowel cancer. It is also important for the upper gastrointestinal tract to be checked (called an endoscopy) from the age of 25 years.

• Lynch syndrome
  

  It is strongly recommended that people who have a mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutation (such as EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2 or MSH6) have regular check-ups, including a bowel test called colonoscopy. 

• MAP (MUTYH-Associated polyposis)
  

  People with MAP need regular bowel check-ups (colonoscopy) from the age of 20 years. If a large number of polyps are found and these cannot be managed by regular colonoscopy screening, an operation to remove the bowel and prevent cancer may be considered. From the age of 35 years, a check of the upper gastrointestinal tract (called an endoscopy) is required to check for polyps in the duodenum.

It is recommended that people with FAP, Lynch syndrome and MAP are referred by their doctor to a local Genetic Service for information and surveillance reminders. 

The Centre for Genetics Information has more information on Inherited Susceptibility of Bowel Cancer.

Read more about genetic testing here

For more information on bowel cancer please visit Bowel Cancer Australia.