Cancer is a disease that can be caused by genetics. However, the rate of these cases is only about 5 - 10% of the total number of cases, according to the daily newspaper The Times of India (India).
Some gene mutations will significantly increase the risk of cancers such as breast, skin or ovarian cancer
“In fact, cancer is hereditary in about 5-10% of cases. In this, the individual will inherit the defective gene from their parents and it will continue to be passed on to their children," said Dr. Rahul Kanaka, a surgical oncologist at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore city (India). , said.
Genes play an important role in determining the risk of many diseases, including cancer. The presence of certain genes significantly increases the risk of certain types of cancer. These gene mutations are inherited from grandparents and parents, so many families have a certain type of cancer.
For example, breast and ovarian cancers are clearly linked to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. People who possess these mutations have a significantly increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Not everyone who has genes that increase the risk of cancer can be tested and identify this risk. One of the warning signs of this condition is that 2 or more relatives have the same type of cancer.
These relatives can be from the paternal or maternal side. The disease appears not only in one generation but in many generations. In particular, the disease often begins at an earlier age than usual. For example, people with genetic breast cancer may develop the disease in their 30s, although the largest group with this disease is women between 65 and 74 years old.
All of the above symptoms are warning signs that genetic factors are a potential cause of cancer. At this time, genetic testing to assess cancer risk as well as take preventive and early detection measures is extremely important. Timely intervention will significantly increase the chance of cure.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend preventive surgical intervention. For example, people with BRCA gene mutations face a very high risk of breast cancer. Preventive surgery will remove the breast to prevent the tumor from growing, according to The Times of India.
