Stating that 5 to 10 percent of cancer is caused by "familial inheritance", Medical Genetics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül Kuşkucu stated that it is possible to investigate the susceptibility of these people to cancer. Reminding that breast and colon cancers, which are common cancers today, can also show genetic transition, Assoc. Dr. Kuşkucu said, however, that the risks of each family are different from each other and the suggestions presented have changed accordingly.
Pointing out that cancer is a genetic disease, Yeditepe University Genetic Diagnosis Center, Medical Genetics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül Kuşkucu said that cancer occurs as a result of changes in the genes inside the cell for reasons that are not known clearly and therefore it is defined as a genetic disease. “Although cancer is defined as a genetic disease, very few of it develops in the form of familial inheritance. It is possible to pre-screen this group. It is possible to investigate cancer susceptibility for this familial group, which accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all cancers. Of course, it is possible for a person to find out whether the cancers in his family are inherited or not and to determine the predisposition to have a genetic examination for them. "
"EVERY FAMILY'S RISK IS DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER"
Providing information about cancer genetic predisposition test, Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül Kuşkucu said, “People should consult a medical geneticist before having the test. Because this test is not given to anyone who says 'I want to learn my susceptibility to cancer'. First of all, more than one person in the family and mostly the same type of cancer should be seen. Apart from these, another important point is that there is a cancer history in the family at an early age. Therefore, if there is a question or doubt in mind, a medical geneticist should be consulted and genetic counseling should be obtained. For example, if we talk about breast cancer, even the mother of the person who applied to us contracted this disease in her 30s, that is, meeting the disease at an earlier age than expected may indicate that the cancer is familial. In such a case, if the person diagnosed with cancer is alive, it should be examined first. Then we look at the genetic change we find in people at risk. Each individual and family risk is different. According to these risks, the suggestions we give to the person also differ ”.
WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS A CANCER RISK?
Pointing out that there is no definite judgment that every person with a genetic disorder will have cancer in their lifetime, Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül Kuşkucu said, “However, it is a known fact that these people are at higher risk compared to the society. At that point, conservative surgery can be performed in very few types of cancer. For example, in familial breast cancers, if the risk is high, there are many cases in the family and the risk of cancer is over 80 percent. zamConservative surgery can be recommended at the moment. The multidisciplinary council consisting of medical oncologists, general surgeons, radiation oncologists, obstetricians, internal medicine specialists, nuclear medicine specialists, radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical genetic specialists, which was formed for this purpose, speaks with the person at risk and the decision is made together. Stating that there is no preventive or preventive treatment for every familial cancer, he explained about the precautions that can be taken in such cases: “Again, speaking for breast cancer, the genetic predisposition of a young woman in her 20s for breast-ovarian cancer is determined, but if preventive surgery is not recommended or requested, follow-up. It is done more frequently and with different methods than normal people. For example, follow-up is done with MR imaging instead of mammography. Again, the planning of these follow-ups is shaped according to the recommendations of the council. Even if it will occur in this way, we can detect cancer very early. "
Medical Genetics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Finally, Ayşegül Kuşkucu listed the cancers that show genetic inheritance as follows: “Breast - ovarian, colon cancers are frequently encountered but multiple endocrine tumors including some thyroid cancers, and a wide range of different types of cancer suddenly appear before us in a family. We also see the cancer syndromes it is seen. For example, lung cancer is not a genetically inherited cancer, but if one member of the family has a diagnosis of brain cancer, another has a diagnosis of breast cancer and another has a diagnosis of leukemia, and another member of the family has lung cancer, it is very likely that it is of genetic origin. Therefore, these cases should be evaluated very well. "
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