In some families cancer risk is higher than in the rest of the population. Why? Which kinds of tumours have a hereditary basis? Which are the differences among them? And what kind of information a genetic test can provide to a high-risk cancer family?
Cancer is caused by the accumulation of mutations in the cell genome. Some mutations are caused by external agents, other by internal ones. Some mutations can also be inherited by our parents. What is the difference between sporadic and hereditary tumours?
In some families cancer risk is higher than in the rest of the population. What does it mean to have a genetic predisposition to cancer? How many hereditary cancer syndromes exist?
What is a genetic test? How is genetic test done and what kind of information does it provide? Let’s see what happens when a member of a high-risk cancer family decides to perform a genetic test.