Hello RomanS and thanks for posting, 

Unfortunately, I am not able to answer all of your questions or tell your friend what to expect. But I think she should talk over her family history of cancer with the GP (family doctor) and get their input. In the UK there are regional cancer genetics clinics which GPs can refer to or get advice from when patients are concerned about their family history of cancer and cancer risk. The types of cancer that relatives have had is a factor in this.  

The majority of cancers are described as sporadic which means that there is not a strong family link. A person's risk of developing cancer is due to a combination of genes, environment, age and things to do with lifestyle.

Only a small number of cancers are caused by inherited faulty genes that significantly increase the risk of cancer. When these genes are in a family, usually several relatives on the same side of the family have the same type of cancer or cancers known to be linked with each other, and develop them at a younger than expected age - so the fact that your friend's relatives were young and on the same side of the family might be significant, but it might not - it could also depend on the type of cancer they had.  

This is quite a complicated topic and it might be useful for your friend to look at the information on our website explaining genes and inherited cancer risk at the link below, 

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../inherited-cancer-genes-and-increased-cancer-risk

I think the best thing for your friend to do is to get proper medical advice via the GP about this so she knows where she stands. 

Do tell her to give us a call if she wants to talk anything over. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays, 9-5.

Wishing you the best,

Julia