Although most cancer is not due to an inherited single gene cause, some people do have a susceptibility to cancer that is caused by a change in a cancer-associated gene that is inherited from a parent. If you have a family member with cancer, there are many reasons why it is beneficial to know your cancer risk, including to:
Understand the risk of cancer for you or your children.
Discover if inheritance played a role in the development of your cancer or a family member’s cancer.
Obtain information about cancer screening tests, such as mammography or colonoscopy, and about how often the tests should be done.
Make decisions about the use of medicines to prevent cancer or preventive surgery.
Investigate the need for genetic (DNA) testing for changes (mutations) in cancer-predisposing genes.
Knowing about your family history can help save your life. Some cancers that can be due to inherited gene mutations include breast, ovary, and colon cancers.