Hereditary Cancers: Are You at Risk and What Can You Do?
Hereditary Cancers: Are You at Risk and What Can You Do?
Do you have a close relative who has had cancer? Do you wonder if you might be at risk too? Family history of cancer is a complex and sensitive issue, often causing anxiety and uncertainty. It’s important to know that not all cancers that occur in a family are hereditary. In many cases, a family history is due to shared environmental factors or lifestyles, rather than a genetic predisposition. However, in a percentage of cases, now believed to be higher than the previously estimated 5-10%, cancers can be caused by inherited genetic mutations, which significantly increase the risk of developing the disease.