are cancer inherited
Is cancer inherited? Usually cancer is not inherited. However, some people are born with an increased risk of cancer because they inherit an altered gene important for cell growth or for repair of damaged DNA, for example. Colorectal cancer is called hereditary or inherited when several generations of a family have colorectal cancer. Several gene mutations, or abnormalities, that cause colorectal cancer, and allow it to be transmitted to family members, have been found. Germline mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increase a woman’s risk of developing hereditary breast or ovarian cancers. The most commonly mutated gene in people who have cancer is p53. In fact, more than 50% of all cancers involve a missing or damaged p53 gene. Most p53 gene mutations are acquired mutations. Types of genes linked to cancer. Many of the genes that contribute to the development of cancer fall into broad categories: Tumor suppressor genes are protective genes. Normally, they limit cell growth by monitoring how quickly cells divide into new cells, repairing mismatched DNA, and controlling when a cell dies. There are two basic types of genetic mutations: 1  Acquired mutations are the most common cause of cancer. These occur from damage to genes during a person’s life. 2  Germline mutations, which are less common, are passed directly from a parent to a child. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. In most cases, a family history of the illness does not mean it is inherited. But 5-10% of affected women do have an inherited form of the disease, usually with earlier onset. Scientists have identified two genes that are altered: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Hereditary Cancer Susceptibility Genes. Hereditary cancer susceptibility genes are genes that have been found to cause a genetic tendency to develop breast cancer and ovarian cancer when there are inherited mutations in these genes. The most common genes found to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer are: The two most common inherited colorectal cancer syndromes are hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). They can affect men and women, and the children of people who carry these genes have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease-causing gene. Inherited Breast Cancer. About 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for breast cancer other than age. The remaining 20% of women may have one or more blood relatives with breast cancer, and of those women, less than half will have cancer as a result of a clearly identifiable inherited genetic factor. There are two main differences between FAP and HNPCC, and they include: 1  Number of genes mutated. In FAP, there is only one gene, the APC gene, which is abnormal. 2  Presence of polyps, or growths that can become cancer. FAP is characterized by the presence of more than 100 benign polyps.
No,cancer is not inherited.