Health
What you need to know about an inherited risk of the disease – and what to do to protect yourself and your loved ones
We’ve all been affected by cancer, so it’s perfectly normal to be concerned about the risk it poses to us and our family.
We’re aware of the faulty genes that can run in families and that raise the risk of certain cancers, such as BRCA1 – the so-called ‘Jolie gene’, after actor Angelina Jolie – and its close cousin, BRCA2, for breast cancer. But just how common are they – and how do you know if your family is at risk?
Is my family affected?
Just because someone in your family has had cancer doesn’t mean that you’re at an increased risk of getting it too. Cancer is very common – around half of us born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some type of cancer during our lifetime*. Most cases are caused by gene faults that happen during our lives, due to ageing and lifestyle, such as smoking and excess weight.
Some, though – an estimated 5-10% – are due to inherited cancer gene faults, which put you at an increased risk of certain cancer types. These faults don’t mean you’ll definitely get cancer, and different gene mutations pose different risks. Some raise your risk by a small amount and others by much more.
Different genes are being discovered all the time. ‘There are now 12 genes known to cause breast cancer, not just BRCA1 and BRCA2,’ says Lester Barr, consultant breast surgeon and founder of charity Prevent Breast Cancer. ‘If you have a strong family history of cancer, you could qualify for a genetic blood test, which will examine for mutations.’
‘Family history of cancer is determined by multiple factors,’ says Mr Barr .‘Generally, the closer the relative and the younger they were when diagnosed, the higher the risk for others in the family.’ Numbers count too; more family members with the same cancer type, particularly when diagnosed in their 50s or younger, can mean increased risk.
WHO KNEW? 40% of UK cancer cases each year are preventable*.
CUT YOUR RISK
Whether you have a family history of cancer or not, you can reduce your chances of getting the disease:
✱ Don’t smoke It’s the biggest cancer risk and linked to many cancers, including lung, bowel and breast. ‘As well as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic,’ says NHS consultant oncologist Professor Robert Thomas.
✱ Eat well Avoid too much red or processed meat, and eat plenty of highfibre foods, including fruit and veg. They contain compounds that may stop the spread of cancer cells. ‘Phytochemicals protect us from damaging toxins,’ says Professor Thomas. ‘The biggest group, polyphenols, are especially e
