Posted on 15th September, 2023 at 6:31:49 AM
A small number of cancers are called hereditary cancer, which means that they are caused by a single major genetic risk factor that is passed down from one generation to another generation. Hereditary Cancer is caused by harmful changes (mutations) in the genetic messages (genes) which control the growth and division of cells. This prevents the cells from being able to do their jobs effectively.
Reason for hereditary cancer:
● Hereditary cancer is caused by mutations in certain genes passed on from parents to their children.
● Most cases of cancer occur in the absence of significant family history and are not inherited. In these families, the mutations causing cancer occur only in the tumor itself and are all inherited after birth.
● The interaction of multiple minor genes and environmental influences may also increase the risk of developing cancer.
● Sometimes it is possible that individuals with a family history of cancer may be more tended to the cancer-causing agents in the environment. This type of moderately increased cancer risk can be called a "familial" risk.
● Genetic changes can lead to cancer if they change the way your cells grow and spread.
What is the role of genes responsible for cancer?
Oncogenes are mutated genes that cause cells to grow out of control and that can lead to cancer, this is caused by a change in or damage to one or more genes. Most changes happen in genes because of gene mutation. Genes that have mutations that are linked to cancer are sometimes called cancer genes.
Types of genetic cancer:
Although cancer is common, About 5 to 10 percent of cancers are thought to be hereditary, which means an individual has inherited cancer genes from one of their parents. This inherited risk of cancer is caused by a small gene mutation that can be passed to the next generations as well. The two most common types of hereditary cancer are breast and ovarian cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome.
Some other types of cancers that can be hereditary are :
● Prostate cancer
● Ovarian cancer
● Colon cancer
