What is the inheritance rate of nasopharyngeal cancer?

Will nasopharyngeal cancer be passed on to the next generation? There are many different opinions on this question. In fact, it is difficult to make a simple comment, because genetic factors do play a role in the development of nasopharyngeal cancer. So is the chance of nasopharyngeal cancer being inherited?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mainly caused by the mutation of normal cells under the influence of certain carcinogenic factors, and their rapid reproduction and growth, like a wild horse that is difficult to control. When the number of cancer cells in the human body exceeds one million, some symptoms of cancer will appear.

DNA is the material basis of heredity. When viruses, radiation, chemicals, etc. act on the DNA in cells, the structure or function of DNA changes, which leads to changes in metabolism. Cells proliferate and become cancer cells. Once DNA changes, it will be passed on to the next generation differently. In this sense, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is related to genetics.

So, will the next generation of nasopharyngeal cancer patients also suffer from nasopharyngeal cancer? The answer is no.

Human cells are divided into two categories: somatic cells and germ cells. Somatic cells have nothing to do with human reproduction, such as muscle cells, bone cells, and nerve cells. Only germ cells, including sperm and egg cells, are cells that communicate genetic information between parents and children. If the DNA of parents becomes cancerous, all cells in their children's bodies will obtain this changed genetic information and may become cancerous. This is a hereditary cancer. However, if somatic cells become cancerous, it will not cause the DNA of germ cells to become cancerous, so this will not cause hereditary cancer.

Therefore, not all nasopharyngeal cancers are hereditary, so there is no need to be too nervous. However, patients with a family history should be aware of this possibility, be vigilant, and detect and treat it early.