Although a large percentage of cancer patients have unique disease characteristics which is called Sporadic Case, but in fact cancer can be caused by abnormalities in genes in the body. It also can be passed down through genetics in the family. Although this group of patients is a small percentage, anyway if you are in a family at risk, doctors will recommend to take regular health examinations. The member of family who is at risk should check their health by themselves or detect the risk of cancer by using Preventive Genetic Testing to prevent it before the cancer spreads until it is difficult to be treated.
Cancers Patients currently can be divided into 2 groups as follows:
- 1st Group: This is the most common patient group, nowadays. It is cancer that occurs as a specific disease (Sporadic Case) such as colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, etc.
- 2nd Group: This is a group of patients of hereditary cancer. This is caused by changing in certain cells and genes in the body that are related to cancer.
Cancer is caused by the abnormality genes in the body.
Genes in the body that cause cancer are divided into 2 groups:
- 1st Group: they are genes that change on their own. Those genes are unusual features and may eventually develop into cancer cells.
- 2nd Group: they are the genes in the body that are responsible for preventing the development of cancer cells, however, they are change. So, they are unable to prevent cancer disease.
“Both two groups of genes have different functions. There is a chance for both groups of genes to be changed to cancerous cells, no matter which cell group is .The more activation of genes that cause cancer or the suppression of genes that prevent cancer.”
Common Hereditary Cancers or Family of Cancer Syndrome include:
- Cancer in Women: cancer that occurs among the women such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. In some patients, both breast cancer and ovarian cancer are founded.
- Colon Cancer: nowadays, it is found that colon cancer is more commonly caused by genetic inheritance.
- Childhood Cancer: normally, cancerous patients are at higher risk of developing the disease when they get older. But for cancer in children, it involves a lot with heredity.
Regular health check-ups, Reduce the risk of hereditary cancer
Currently, there is no definite effective way to prevent cancer. People who are at risk can do only surveillance. Explore their own abnormal symptoms or undergo regular health check-ups or early cancer detection. In addition, it will also be possible to detect cancer risk by using Preventive Genetic Testing method or cancer risk detection, in the near future. This method may be conducted by collecting abnormal genes from common cancers to test with those who want to detect the disease.
Dr. Wichit Aphornwirat
Oncology Medical Specialist
Cancer Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
