Dr. Sneha Kommineni, Consultant in Medical Oncology, sheds light on Hereditary Cancer and when to remain vigilant.
If a family member has had cancer before the age of 50, if there are multiple cancer types in one individual, or if several family members have had cancer, it's essential to consult a doctor for genetic testing to assess susceptibility risk.
Physicians at Aster RV Hospitals, Bangalore, are well-versed in identifying when to recommend screening for inherited cancers.
Genetic testing is particularly relevant for families with a history of cancer. If someone is diagnosed with cancer at a young age—before 50 years old—or if there are multiple cancers within the family, including breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer, it's important to consider genetic testing. Additionally, if two first-generation family members have had similar cancers in successive generations, such as breast cancer in grandmothers, mothers, sisters, or cousins, or if colon cancer has occurred before the age of 50, or if there have been instances of triple-negative breast cancer or two breast cancers, genetic testing should be considered.
