Oncologist Elina Aranovych shares her findings on hereditary cancer, stressing that some individuals are genetically predisposed to the development of specific types of cancer. The term "cancer family" refers to families where several members suffer from the same type of cancer. Elina Aranovych explains that cancer itself is not transmitted, but only a predisposition to it under the influence of "bad heredity".
When multiple cases of cancer run in a family, it may be by chance or due to shared risk factors, such as smoking, the oncologist notes. She reveals that a certain set of genes is passed from each parent to the child, which may contain a mutated version of the gene, increasing the likelihood of developing tumors in the body's organs.
However, the genetic mutation leads to the development of only 10% of all types of tumors, according to the American Cancer Society. Elina Aranovych emphasizes common forms of hereditary cancer, in particular reproductive organs and the digestive system, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pathologies of the digestive system.
The doctor also notes that inherited disorders such as Lynch syndrome, Cowden syndrome and Li-Fraumeni syndrome can lead to cancer in various organs. She recommends that persons with a history of cancer among first-degree relatives (parents, sisters, brothers, children) undergo thorough and regular examinations for early detection of possible signs of the disease.
