What Are Hereditary Cancers?Updated 20 days ago

Hereditary cancers are cancers that occur more often because of inherited genetic mutations passed from parents to children. Having a mutation does not guarantee cancer, but it does raise the risk compared to someone without the mutation.

For example, a mutation in the BRCA1 gene increases the genetic risk of breast cancer. This applies to both women and men, as BRCA1 mutations can also lead to male breast cancer. These risks can be passed down to daughters and sons, which is why understanding family genetic health is so important.

A DNA test can help identify these mutations. Knowing your genetic risk empowers you and your family to take preventive steps, such as early cancer screenings or lifestyle adjustments. If one family member is found to carry a mutation, it may indicate a higher risk for close relatives as well.

At CircleDNA, we use Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to analyze inherited risks for 36 types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, lung, liver, and pancreatic cancers. You can find more details in our dedicated Hereditary Cancer Risk Reports. Early detection makes a major difference. For many cancers, finding them early can raise survival rates to over 90 percent.