Rare/ Hereditary Cancer

Cancer has become such a common disease that it is no surprise that many families have more than one family member who have had cancer. Sometimes, certain types of cancer seem to run in some families. Very often, it may due to certain risk factors shared by family members for example lifestyle and environmental factors such as smoking and high fat content diet that links to obesity, tend to be common traits in families and can increase cancer risks.

But in some cases the cancer is caused by an abnormal gene that is being passed along from generation to generation. Although this is often referred to as inherited cancer, what is inherited is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer, not the cancer itself. Only about 5% to 10% of all cancers result directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent.

Please click here for more details.