Cervical Cancer Genetics

Having one gynecologic cancer does not increase your risk of having other types of gynecologic cancer. However, women with a hereditary cancer syndrome are at increased risk of developing a gynecologic cancer. These syndromes include Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) caused by a BRCA mutation as well as Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Women with HBOC syndrome have markedly elevated risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, with a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 50 to 85 percent and a 15 to 40 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. There is also an increased risk of a second breast cancer diagnosis.

Lynch syndrome is associated with cancer diagnosis at an early age and the development of multiple cancer types, particularly colon and endometrial cancer. Until recently, the majority of attention and research related to Lynch syndrome has focused on colorectal cancer. However, women with Lynch syndrome have a 27 to 71% risk of endometrial cancer, which equals or exceeds their risk of colorectal cancer. This is significantly higher than the 3% risk of endometrial cancer in the general population. In addition, women with Lynch syndrome have a 8-11% risk of ovarian cancer, compared with 1.5% in the general population. The management of endometrial and ovarian cancer risks in women with HBOC or Lynch syndrome includes surveillance, chemoprevention and risk-reducing surgery.

Hello there! I'm sure my surgical team did some tests, and I was told that I would get a "copy" of the study I took part in when it was done, but I never received it. I would have like to know what it said. I don't even know now where or if I could obtain it. It was at University of Alabama Birmingham. Things have changed alot medically, but I still would like to know. They even sent someone out to my house to interview me. I was counting on the information!

Since my uterus was not fully developed in the womb (the mouth, or opening), while I was in-utero, I have wondered if my mother had gene abnormalties, because she had cervical cancer at 36 (I was 12). Her's was caught in a Pap Test early and treated. She did well. But that was so long ago. If both occurrences happened today, I believe at least some of the outcomes would have been different, in a positive way.

My mother did smoke, and drink alcohol occasionally while pregnant. And while there are differences in opinion about this, some medical, some take offense to the suggestion; I believe it has to have a negative effect just by common sense. Especially with two babies at the same time are needing nutrition from the mother.

p.s. Would love to hear from you on this (if you have any thoughts)!