Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Genetic Predisposition to Cancer?What Are Genetic Tests for Cancer?Should I Get Tested?How Is Genetic Testing Done?Types of Tests AvailableWhat Do Test Results Mean?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Genetic Predisposition to Cancer?
What Are Genetic Tests for Cancer?
Should I Get Tested?
How Is Genetic Testing Done?
Types of Tests Available
What Do Test Results Mean?
Inherited vs. Acquired MutationsMost cancers start because of acquiredgene mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime. Sometimes these gene changes have an outside cause, such as exposure to sunlight or tobacco, but gene mutations can also be random events that happen inside a cell without a clear reason.Acquired mutations only affect cells that grow from the mutated cell. They do not affect all the cells in a person’s body. All the cancer cells will have the mutations, but normal cells in the body will not. Because of this, these mutations are not passed on to a person’s children. This is very different from inherited mutations, which are in every cell in the body, including the cells without cancer.
Inherited vs. Acquired Mutations
Most cancers start because of acquiredgene mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime. Sometimes these gene changes have an outside cause, such as exposure to sunlight or tobacco, but gene mutations can also be random events that happen inside a cell without a clear reason.Acquired mutations only affect cells that grow from the mutated cell. They do not affect all the cells in a person’s body. All the cancer cells will have the mutations, but normal cells in the body will not. Because of this, these mutations are not passed on to a person’s children. This is very different from inherited mutations, which are in every cell in the body, including the cells without cancer.
Most cancers start because of acquiredgene mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime. Sometimes these gene changes have an outside cause, such as exposure to sunlight or tobacco, but gene mutations can also be random events that happen inside a cell without a clear reason.
Acquired mutations only affect cells that grow from the mutated cell. They do not affect all the cells in a person’s body. All the cancer cells will have the mutations, but normal cells in the body will not. Because of this, these mutations are not passed on to a person’s children. This is very different from inherited mutations, which are in every cell in the body, including the cells without cancer.
Non-BRCA Gene Mutations That Raise Breast Cancer Risk
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Genetic predisposition is an increased chance of developing cancer due to gene mutations in specific genes. These variations are frequently inherited from a parent. While inheriting these genetic mutations increases the risk of cancer, it doesn’t mean someone with inherited gene mutations will necessarily develop cancer. In other words, cancer is not inherited, but someone can inherit a gene that increases their risk of cancer. That predisposition can be large or small, depending on the particular gene and other risk factors.
Two types of tests are used to identify a genetic predisposition:
Multifactorial Disorders
Although multifactorial disorders are normally found in families, it’s difficult to pinpoint a clear pattern of inheritance, which makes it hard to assess the risk of inheriting the condition.
If you are concerned about your family’s medical history related to cancer, you may want to consult a genetic counselor and get tested.
You may want to get genetic testing for cancer predisposition if you have any of the following:
Genetic testing cannot determine the risk of all types of cancers.
The Downside of Genetic Testing
Getting screened for cancer can help, but there is no question that it comes with some stressors, including:
Speak with a genetic testing counselor to discuss any of these concerns.
Prior to a genetic test, you’ll meet with a genetic counselor, who will go through the procedure and answer any question you may have. They will talk about the testing procedure, as well as the test’s benefits, limitations, and the significance of your test results
A sampling of blood, hair, skin, amniotic fluid, or other tissues is taken and sent to a lab where technicians examine changes in DNA, chromosomes, and proteins. Results are sent in writing to your genetic counselor, healthcare provider, or, if requested, directly to you.
Now you also have the option of conducting a genetic test at home.
Home Testing
This test requires you to collect a saliva sample in a test tube. Afterwards, you will have to ship it to the lab. Test results are posted on a secure website for your review. The test can detect genetic markers that indicate increased risk of cancer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will definitely develop cancer.
More than 1,000 variations in each of theBRCA1andBRCA2genes have been associated with an increased risk of cancer.The FDA-approved direct-to-consumer genetic test analyzes only three of these variations, however. Also, the variations included in the test are much more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish background than in people of other ethnicities, so the results may not be useful to you if you are of a different ethnic background.
The FDA warns that consumers and healthcare professionals should not use the test results to determine any treatments.Instead, these decisions require confirmatory testing and genetic counseling.
Genetic testing is available for the following types of cancers:
Your genetic test results could be:
A Word From Verywell
Genetic testing is an important tool that can give you peace of mind. For individuals who have a family history of cancer, it can also be a lifesaver and alert them to monitor any changes to their health so their cancers can be diagnosed and treated early. It’s important to remember, though, that genetic tests for cancer cannot detect risk of all types of cancers.
If you plan to take a genetic test to determine if you have a higher risk of cancer, you should undergo genetic counseling so all your questions can be answered. Keep in mind that if your family is predisposed to cancer, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop the disease.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Understanding genetic testing for cancer.National Cancer Institute.Genetic testing fact sheet.MedlinePlus Genetics.What are complex or multifactorial disorders?American Cancer Society.Should I Get Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk?MedlinePlus Genetics.How is Genetic Testing Done?MedlinePlus.Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop cancer?Harvard Health.Should you try a home genetic test kit?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA authorizes, with special controls, direct-to-consumer test that reports three mutations in the BRCA breast cancer genes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.American Cancer Society.Genetic testing, screening, and prevention for people with a strong family history of colorectal cancer.Urology Care Foundation.Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know.Lab Tests Online.Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in People with Genetic Risk.American Cancer Society.Genetic Counseling for People at High Risk of Melonoma.American Cancer Society.What Causes Kidney Cancer?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer(HDGC).National Cancer Institute.Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndrome.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Understanding genetic testing for cancer.National Cancer Institute.Genetic testing fact sheet.MedlinePlus Genetics.What are complex or multifactorial disorders?American Cancer Society.Should I Get Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk?MedlinePlus Genetics.How is Genetic Testing Done?MedlinePlus.Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop cancer?Harvard Health.Should you try a home genetic test kit?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA authorizes, with special controls, direct-to-consumer test that reports three mutations in the BRCA breast cancer genes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.American Cancer Society.Genetic testing, screening, and prevention for people with a strong family history of colorectal cancer.Urology Care Foundation.Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know.Lab Tests Online.Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in People with Genetic Risk.American Cancer Society.Genetic Counseling for People at High Risk of Melonoma.American Cancer Society.What Causes Kidney Cancer?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer(HDGC).National Cancer Institute.Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndrome.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Understanding genetic testing for cancer.National Cancer Institute.Genetic testing fact sheet.MedlinePlus Genetics.What are complex or multifactorial disorders?American Cancer Society.Should I Get Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk?MedlinePlus Genetics.How is Genetic Testing Done?MedlinePlus.Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop cancer?Harvard Health.Should you try a home genetic test kit?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA authorizes, with special controls, direct-to-consumer test that reports three mutations in the BRCA breast cancer genes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.American Cancer Society.Genetic testing, screening, and prevention for people with a strong family history of colorectal cancer.Urology Care Foundation.Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know.Lab Tests Online.Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in People with Genetic Risk.American Cancer Society.Genetic Counseling for People at High Risk of Melonoma.American Cancer Society.What Causes Kidney Cancer?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer(HDGC).National Cancer Institute.Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndrome.
American Cancer Society.Understanding genetic testing for cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Genetic testing fact sheet.
MedlinePlus Genetics.What are complex or multifactorial disorders?
American Cancer Society.Should I Get Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk?
MedlinePlus Genetics.How is Genetic Testing Done?
MedlinePlus.Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop cancer?
Harvard Health.Should you try a home genetic test kit?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA authorizes, with special controls, direct-to-consumer test that reports three mutations in the BRCA breast cancer genes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.
American Cancer Society.Genetic testing, screening, and prevention for people with a strong family history of colorectal cancer.
Urology Care Foundation.Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know.
Lab Tests Online.Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in People with Genetic Risk.
American Cancer Society.Genetic Counseling for People at High Risk of Melonoma.
American Cancer Society.What Causes Kidney Cancer?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer(HDGC).
National Cancer Institute.Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndrome.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
