Hereditary Gastric Cancer
Frequently Asked Questions about Hereditary
Below are some of the questions people ask about hereditary , genetics, screening, prevention and treatment. You can read more detailed information about risk, risk-management and treatment options here.
What is hereditary ?
is cancer of the stomach. Hereditary refers to stomach cancer caused by an inherited gene change (mutation) that can be passed from parents to their children.
Who is at risk for ?
Anyone can develop , but some people have a higher risk than others. Risk may be affected by:
Medical conditions
- infection with a bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori ()
- long-term inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus
- obesity
Genetics and family history
- a family history of stomach cancer
- an known to increase the risk of stomach cancer
Other factors
- smoking
- weight
- diets high in salty, smoked or processed foods
- diets low in fruits and vegetables
- heavy alcohol use
How common is ?
In the general population, the average risk for stomach cancer is about 1%. This means that about 1 out of every 100 people will develop stomach cancer in their lifetime. The risk for men is higher (1 in 96) than for women (1 in 152).
For people with certain risk factors, the lifetime risk may be much higher.
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Is genetic?
All gastric cancers are caused by damage to genes in the cells of the stomach. Most of this damage happens during the course of a person's lifetime.
Some gastric cancers are hereditary. These are caused by inherited mutations that are present at birth and can be passed on from parents to their children.
How can I learn if the in my family is hereditary?
Genetic counseling and testing can help people learn if the in their family is hereditary.
For people diagnosed with , the location and subtype of the cancer and testing can provide additional clues about whether their cancer may be hereditary. Some of the signs of hereditary include:
- diagnosis with a rare subtype called signet ring cell carcinoma (may also be referred to as diffuse )
- young-onset cancers (diagnosed before age 50)
- multiple cancers diagnosed in the same person
- multiple people in a family with gastric, colorectal, endometrial or other types of cancer
You can read more about genetic testing here.
Which genes are linked to hereditary ?
Inherited mutations in the genes listed below are linked to an increased risk for .
How common is hereditary ?
About 10% of all gastric cancers are caused by inherited mutations that can be passed on from parents to their childrens.
What can people do to manage their risk?
There are three main medical approaches to managing an increased colorectal cancer risk:
- increased screening
- medications to lower risk
- risk-reducing surgery
Each of these options comes with benefits, costs and risks. Expert guidelines for colorectal cancer risk management are based on your level of risk.
How is stomach cancer detected?
is often detected at an advanced , but it can be found early with regular screening. Upper endoscopy with biopsy is considered the best screening method for people at high risk. This procedure is performed under anesthesia.
Guidelines on the age to begin and the frequency of screening differ based on a person's gene mutation, family history of cancer, estimated lifetime risk and other factors. Visit this page for more information.
How are hereditary gastric cancers different?
Hereditary gastric cancers tend to occur at a younger age and are linked to inherited mutations in the genes listed above. They may have unique features. For example, the biomarkers or are often seen in cancers of people with . Cancers associated with mutations in and CTNNA1—called signet ring cell carcinomas—look different under the microscope and behave differently than other forms of gastric cancers.
You can learn more about treatment options for here.
Screening
Most gastric cancers start as precancerous growths or abnormal cells that may develop into cancer over time. Early detection can help improve a person’s chance of surviving gastric cancer.
Prevention
Medications may lower gastric cancer risk in high-risk people. People with a very high risk for gastric cancer may choose to have surgery to lower their risk. Vaccines are being tested as part of clinical research studies.
Treatment
People diagnosed with gastric cancer may have different treatment options based on their stage and results of genetic and biomarker testing.
Genetic Testing
National guidelines outline who should consider genetic counseling and testing for an inherited mutation linked to cancer.