Hello. This is my first time seeing a website like this so dedicated to the course, Genetics. Your website is very nice, and I’m quite happy to have been invited to this page. Now that I’m here, I’d like to ask if cancer can actually be hereditary. I’ve known cases where her mother has breast cancer, and so the risk of the children having cancer, especially breast cancer, is quite higher than that of those who have no cancer cases or history in their family.
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Thank you very much for reaching out to us! This is a very interesting and relevant topic.
Cancer can arise when genes controlling cellular growth and division are altered or damaged, whether due to a person's lifestyle or environment. This causes some of the body’s cells to grow uncontrollably and form tumors that may spread to other parts of the body. Most mutations are spontaneous, but some people inherit genetic alterations that raise their chance of developing cancer. So, since DNA damage results in genetic mutations, technically, all cancer has a genetic basis behind it. Although it's not always hereditary, the genes passed on to you by your parents may affect your risk of having it. You may refer to these links for your reference:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics
However, there are several ways to combat or lower the risk of cancer. One effective way is through a healthy lifestyle. It has been scientifically proven that a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of developing cancer or postpone the onset of it at an older age.
I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out to us if you have more questions. Thank you! 😊
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