Family History
Our ancestors don’t inherit any cancers. Nonetheless, in some families there is a strong genetic susceptibility or hereditary cancer risk. For example, genetic conditions inherited – such as Lynch syndrome or Li-Fraumeni syndrome, or mutations ofBRCA1 or BRCA2 – carry a higher risk of developing some cancers.
When you know you have a genetic susceptibility to cancer, genetic testing can be done to help explain the vulnerability and decide what cancers you are at increased risk for. Talk to your family, and your doctor about your family history.