Is cancer hereditary?

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).

Certain gene mutations significantly increase the risk of developing cancers such as breast, skin, or ovarian cancer.

"In fact, cancer is hereditary in about 5-10% of cases. In this case, the individual will inherit the faulty gene from their parents and it will continue to be passed on to their children," said Dr. Rahul Kanaka, a cancer surgeon at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, India.

Genes play an important role in determining the risk of many diseases, including cancer. The presence of certain genes significantly increases the risk of developing specific types of cancer. These gene mutations are inherited from grandparents and parents, so there are families where many members of a certain type of cancer also develop.

For example, breast and ovarian cancers are clearly linked to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. People with these mutations have a significantly increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

Not everyone with genes that increase their risk of cancer can be tested and identified. One of the warning signs of this condition is two or more relatives with the same type of cancer.

These relatives can be on either the maternal or paternal side. The disease does not appear in just one generation but in many generations. In particular, the disease often begins at an earlier age than normal. For example, people with genetic breast cancer can develop the disease in their 30s, although the largest group of people with this disease is women between 65 and 74 years old.

All of the above symptoms are warning signs that genetic factors are potential causes of cancer. At this time, genetic testing to assess cancer risk as well as take preventive measures and early detection is extremely important. Timely intervention will significantly increase the possibility of curing the disease.

In some cases, doctors may recommend preventive surgery. For example, people with BRCA gene mutations face a very high risk of breast cancer. Prophylactic surgery involves removing the breast to prevent the tumor from growing, according to The Times of India .

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