Cancer is genetically much as 7% of cases

Cancer is genetically much as 7% of cases

Genetic predisposition is associated with between five and ten percent of all new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in Spain, around 162,000. However, although the genetic inheritance of a person increases their chances of developing a malignant tumor, as Rachel explains Dr. Bratos, medical oncologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid, is a condition in which many variables involved, and lifestyle, type of diet and infection are risk factors for cancer that significantly influence the occurrence of disease.

Cancers that are more transmissible genetic load of character are colon cancer and breast cancer . In the case of colorectal cancer about 25% of patients have another family member with the disease, and between 10 and 15 percent of cases have a hereditary component. Also between 5 and 10% of the cases of breast cancer are related to mutations in specific genes of susceptibility to these cancers.

Some signs, such as the existence of many cases in one family-especially if they have been diagnosed at early ages, or when multiple malignancies in the same family are present, or it is a cancer process bilaterally two pairs organs affected eg both kidneys or both breasts, they may indicate the possible existence of an inherited predisposition to cancer.

Although this does not mean that will be suffering from cancer, the specialist explains that people with these family history, can turn to a Unit of Cancer Genetic Counseling for detailed information. Thus, the patient can reduce their level of anxiety , early diagnosis is favored, and can offer advice and appropriate to your particular case specific prevention measures.

Source: MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid