Is cancer hereditary?

Cancer can be caused by genetics. However, the percentage of these cases is only about 5-10% of all cancer cases, according to The Times of 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. Individuals inherit faulty genes from their parents, and these are then passed on to their children," said Dr. Rahul Kanaka, a surgical cancer specialist at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, India.

Genes play a crucial role in determining the risk of developing 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, which is why some families have multiple members affected by a particular type of cancer.

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

Not everyone who carries genes that increase their risk of cancer can get tested and identified. One warning sign is when two or more family members have the same type of cancer.

These relatives could be on either the paternal or maternal side. The disease doesn't just appear in one generation, but in multiple generations. Notably, it often starts at an earlier age than normal. For example, those with genetically inherited breast cancer may develop the disease in their 30s, although the highest incidence is in women aged 65 to 74.

All of the above symptoms are warning signs that genetic factors may be a potential cause of cancer. At this point, genetic testing to assess cancer risk and to implement preventive measures and early detection is extremely important. Timely intervention will significantly increase the chances of a cure.

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

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