Super scared

[Allocate]

So my sperm donor's first daughter had Rhabdomyosarcoma, she beat the cancer but of course there is always a chance that it could come back. What are the chances of my little girl getting the same cancer? Im looking it up as well but I want all of yalls opinions as well.

[OctoberMommy2014]

hmm, okay. not my area of study, I'm just an x-ray tech., but I debated on specializing in radiation oncology.. never heard of that before, but then again I'm sensitive to it & never really decided to focus on it either.

[bebe5709]

@OctoberMommy
We don't use the term "hereditary" when talking about cancer because it isn't passed through family lines in the same way say hair color is. We use the term "genetically predisposed" to describe groups of people that are more likely to get certain diseases and cancers due to their genetics. Breast cancer "running in your family" could very well mean there is a group of mutations known to cause this cancer that is present in your family line. Being a red head means I have specific mutations in my genes that predispose me to several nasty diseases including skin cancer and Alzheimer's. In some cases a persons ethnicity predisposes them to disease as well. It's a complicated field and I tried to put it as simply as I could to help people understand the nature of cancer as a genetic based disease it is.

[bebe5709]

@mommyOf3
If they know exactly what set of mutations leads to that specific type of cancer they can genetically screen the parents, its expensive and not necessarily worth the cost. Just know that all cancers are rare. It isn't easy to build up that exact set of mutations necessary to cause any cancer. Our bodies have great DNA damage repair mechanisms. in place aalready. Things you can do to prevent damage include avoiding carcinogens. Smoking, too much sun, excessive exposure to chemicals etc.

[Allocate]

Thank you to all of you ladies

[OctoberMommy2014]

my brother passed away from neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, 16 days before his 4th birthday - from what I know, cancer isn't hereditary.. which is confusing b/c since breast cancer "runs in my family" I may have to start getting mammograms earlier than some.

I don't think you have anything to worry about unless it's something like an autoimmune disease or something.. just talk it over with your doctor for comfort & reassurance though! praying for you and good luck!! ♥

[Allocate]

I dont know if it was passed from him or the mother to his first child. Im gonna talk to my ob about it at my next appointment. I would have brought it up earlier with her but I had no idea about his first daugher having the cancer

[Allocate]

Thank you @bebe5709 im trying my hardest to not stress over it. As long as I keep busy my mind is off of that issue completely

[mommyof3plus2otw]

Is it passed from the father or mother? Could docs tell where it came from?

[bebe5709]

There's a chance your baby is predisposed to it. There are a certain set of mutations that have to occur in the DNA to get cancer. If a parent passes down a part of that set then the child has fewer mutations they have to gain in order to have that type of cancer. this is what it means to be predisposed. You don't know if it was him or the mother or neither that passed the mutations to his first child. Don't stress over it.

[Allocate]

Im so scared. I still have 133 days until I meet my little girl and that is one of my biggest fears

[rebeccaann11]

That's scary. I don't know. But BUMP