Genetics - Children of Lung Cancer Patients

[JustBreathe82]

Hi all - I am a young mom who just underwent a lung wedge resection. I will be monitored for life, most likely - but I am wondering about my child. I have two EGFR mutations and am concerned about what this means for my son. Does anyone know much about testing younger patients -he is much too young now, but I am curious when this would start to ensure he is watched. Thanks so much.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi JustBreathe82

Sorry to hear you have had lung cancer and hope your recovery from surgery went well.

Statistics show that only 8% of lung cancers are inherited and there is a very low risk that the child of a parent will have lung cancer. However, your concern is very understandable and genetic testing is usually for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

It may be that when your son is older, there may be more advances in detecting the faulty gene that causes lung cancer. You may find this link from Cancer Research UK of interest on genetics and cancer: cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

You may wish to contact those on the EGFR Lung cancer UK website: egfrpositive.org.uk/ they also have a face book support page: facebook.com/groups/2805110...

If you would like to discuss anything further you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[JustBreathe82 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you <3

[JanetteR57]

well done on your lung resection. usual UK follow up is 5 years post surgery not for life but may be the US system is different . Very few lung cancers have an inherited gene/mutation as far as is known but more is being learnt about lung cancer all the time.

At the time of my LC diagnosis (January 2011) for which I had an upper left lobectomy, EGFR was the only known driver mutation with targeted treatments only available through clinical trial. In the last 10 years or so, platform trials and cheaper technology for genomic sequencing/testing have revealed many more mutations. I didn't have that mutation but have been involved in cancer research since end of 2013 and treatment/research landscape for lung cancer bear little resemblance to the era of my diagnosis and treatment.

Last year groundbreaking research was published by Prof Charles Swanton with the results of UCL's TracerX study which had studied thousands of patients and the link with air pollution was found - but also a factor previously undiscovered - that many of the population have EGFR, ALK and other mutations already in their body so it seems that on its own is not enough to trigger mutation into cancer - but a second event like exposure to particulates may drive the mutation/cellular damage and may be some explanation in younger never smokers particularly.

As more is learnt about lung cancer, thinking may change based on new evidence. Previously it was assumed that all non smokers' LC was due to living or working in a smoky environment but recent research has changed thinking.

BRCA genetic testing and in my case as dad had bowel cancer in his 50s, other genetic testing has been available for some time as the link is evidenced but not evidenced yet for lung cancer.

However having had a health episode will no doubt result in some lifestyle changes for you and your family. Hopefully that legacy will continue with your young family.

When my dad had bowel cancer twice in his 50s (he's 93 now), it raised our respectiveness awareness how precious health is and keeping active and adopting healthier lifestyle habits became the norm.

With a prediction that 1 in 2 people born after 1960 will develop a cancer of some type in their lifetime, the lesson about reducing the odds or swifter recovery from treatment if it does happen, that's something to hold onto for you and them at the moment.

good luck with your recovery.

[JustBreathe82]

thank you <3. I plan on getting involved in these communities to learn more for surveillance and treatment. It's incredible how much progress they have made in just a few years. Good luck to you!