Jun
Hereditary cancer is a cancer that has developed as a result of a gene mutation passed down from a parent to a child. Inheriting a gene mutation does not necessarily mean that person will develop cancer, but increases their risk factor.
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rnnResearch and studies have found that certain gene mutations increase the chances of a person to develop certain kinds of cancers, depending on family history. Remember, cancer is not inherited, only the gene that increases the danger factor of developing it.
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rnnWhat cancers are hereditary?
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rnnThe most common hereditary cancers are:
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rnnBreast Cancer
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rnnOvarian Cancer
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rnnProstate Cancer
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rnnColorectal Cancer
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rnnIn hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, the two diseases are often linked together. This is because they develop from the same mutated genes in cases of hereditary cancer. These genes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2.
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rnnResearchers are working hard to understand more about how genes work inside the body and why things sometimes go wrong. Recently, cancer research has focused on understanding how a normal cell, through a series of genetic changes, turns into a cancerous cell. A number of genes have been identified that play a part in the development of some cancers. If a person is born with a gene change (mutation) that makes them more prone to develop cancer, we say that they have inherited a cancer gene. This mutation might then also be passed on to their kids.
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Fewer than 10% of cancer cases are due to hereditary factors. Most cancers are random and not inherited, nobody knows what causes them; having a 'family history' of cancer does not necessarily mean you are at greater risk of developing cancer than someone who has no family history of cancer
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rnnYou can inherit a tendency to get SOME particular cancers (not all), but you won't definitely get that cancer. Some cancers are not hereditary at all – bone cancer is an example.
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rnnScientists have identified some high risk faulty genes but these are rare. One example of a high risk gene is BRCA1. Women who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene have an 80% chance of getting breast cancer at some point in their lives - but this still means that one in five of women with the gene will not get breast cancer. (Only 5 – 10 % of breast cancer cases are caused by hereditary factors). .
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rnnDoctors who specialise in this area think that the younger you are when a cancer occurs, the more likely it is that an inherited genetic tendency has played a part. Cancers that develop after the age of 50 are much less apt to be hereditary.
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rnnMy oncologist was able to assure me my breast cancer was not in any way hereditary, and that other members of my (largely female) family weren’t at increased risk.
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I'm no expert, but I believe so. My wife's doctor tells her that she is at higher risk for breast cancer because her mother had it (and died from it).