According to current estimates, only about one in 10 cases of cancer is associated with hereditary predisposition. Cancer is not inherited.

Cancer is a common disease, and almost every family has a number of members who suffer from cancer. However, this does not generally mean that families have a hereditary predisposition to cancer. The vast majority of cancer cases originate from the combined effect of hereditary as well as external influences, such as environmental and lifestyle factors.

An inherited genetic defect is not necessarily passed on to all members of the same family, and not everyone who receives the same defective gene will develop cancer.

A genetic disposition to cancer can be identified by the onset of cancer occurring at a very young age or that many closely related members of the same family suffer from the same type of cancer.

1. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women.
2. It is good to find out about one’s inherited breast cancer predisposition if
3. At least three of four relatives from the same side of the family have had breast or ovarian cancer
4. A close relative had cancer at a young age
5. There has been both breast and ovarian cancer in the same family
6. A man in one’s family has had breast cancer.