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Tag: familial cancer risk

How Genetic Is Cancer? Understanding Inherited Predisposition and Risk Factors

Cancer remains one of the most complex diseases known to modern medicine, affecting millions of individuals worldwide each year. One of the most critical questions in cancer research is: how genetic is cancer? Many people wonder whether cancer can be inherited from parents and to what extent an inherited predisposition to cancer contributes to their overall risk. While all cancers are genetic in the sense that they result from mutations in DNA, not all cancers are inherited. Understanding the distinction between inherited genetic predisposition and sporadic mutations is crucial for assessing risk, developing prevention strategies, and improving early detection. This article explores the genetic foundations of cancer, the role of family history, and the latest research on how genetic mutations influence cancer development.