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Is Cancer in Your DNA Here’s How to Find Out Before It’s Too Late!
Is Cancer in Your DNA Here’s How to Find Out Before It’s Too Late!

Is Cancer in Your DNA? Here's How to Know Early

Most people do not realize that “inherited genetic mutations cause up to 10% of all cancers.” These are passed from parent to child and can raise the lifetime risk of developing cancer. If you carry one of these mutations, you won’t feel it. 

However, your chances of getting certain cancers go up sharply. The only way to know is to test for it. And the only smart time to do that is before symptoms appear. 

Certain genes in the body act like quality control. BRCA1 and BRCA2 fix broken DNA. TP53 triggers repair or shuts down faulty cells. When these stop working due to a mutation, damaged cells multiply and become tumors. Unlike lifestyle factors, inherited mutations mean your cells are already vulnerable from birth.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Around 1 in 300 to 500 people carry these mutations. They account for 5–10% of breast cancer and 15% of ovarian cancer cases 

According to NCBI, 25% of people without cancer already qualify for hereditary cancer testing based on family history alone. But thankfully, you don’t need a lab coat to spot red flags. A basic understanding of your family history is enough to know if testing makes sense. Here’s wat you must consider:

  • Cancer in the family before age 50 
  • Several relatives with the exact same or related cancers 
  • Family members with breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, or colon cancer 
  • A known mutation already identified in a relative 

Genetic testing does not involve surgeries or blood draws. The entire process starts with a cheek swab or saliva sample and ends with a clear report. What happens in between is handled by a lab.

You meet with a genetic counselor. They take a detailed family history and determine which genes should be analyzed. Once your DNA is processed, you get one of three results:

  • Pathogenic variant: a mutation known to increase cancer risk 
  • Benign variant: a harmless change 
  • VUS (Variant of Uncertain Significance): unknown impact (for now)

Most people don’t get a clean “yes” or “no.” But the science is improving. A 2024 study reclassified 91% of uncertain BRCA2 mutations into known categories. 

  • Start cancer screenings earlier and do them more often 
  • Use advanced imaging, like breast MRIs, alongside mammograms 
  • Discuss preventive surgeries if you’re carrying BRCA or TP53 mutations 
  • Inform blood relatives (since they may carry the same mutation)

This kind of information only matters if you act on it. Sitting on results helps no one.

Please note that a negative test doesn’t guarantee protection. It just means no mutations were found in the genes tested. You’re still subject to environmental and lifestyle factors, and there could be mutations in genes that weren’t part of the test panel. Uncertain results (VUS) are common. They’re a reminder to stay in contact with your counselor.

After all, as more data comes in, classifications change.

Most people who meet the criteria for hereditary cancer testing aren’t getting it. This failure cuts across hospitals, clinics, and oncology practices. In a study by Stanford Medicine that tracked more than 1.3 million cancer patients, only 6.8% received germline genetic testing within two years of their diagnosis.

These patients were already under medical care. Many were already in treatment. But the system still didn’t flag them for genetic screening.

The trend shows up clearly in breast and ovarian cancer data. For patients with early-stage breast cancer, only 12% received BRCA testing. For ovarian cancer, the rate reached 38%, which is still far from acceptable. These numbers reflect missed chances. A test at the right time can guide surgery decisions, shift chemotherapy strategies, or open access to targeted drugs.

Public interest doesn’t match what’s happening in practice. In a study published by Frontiers in Genetics, more than half of the general population said they would take a genetic test if offered. About one in four respondents said they were highly interested in learning their inherited cancer risk. People want this information. Doctors rarely bring it up.

This gap between eligibility and action creates a backlog of undetected risk. The medical infrastructure hasn’t kept up with what science already proves. Until testing becomes standard procedure for high-risk profiles, most of the cases will, unfortunately, remain managed reactively instead of proactively. 

Most people wait for symptoms. That’s too late. If your genes are raising silent red flags, the right time to move is now.

  • Check your history: Check your history by talking to your family. Get details about who had what and at what age. Remember that patterns matter. 
  • Book a test: Book a genetic consultation with LifeCode to review your personal risk profile. If eligible, you can order a LifeCode genetic testing kit through their website or helpline. The process is simple: swab the inside of your cheek at home using the provided kit. Then, return it using the prepaid package. Once received, the lab analyzes your sample for cancer-related genetic markers. 
  • Tell your family: Loop in your bloodline because genetic risks are shared. Your results may be the reason someone else gets checked in time.

You can’t change your DNA. But you can change what you do with it. So, start with one step. The test. The call. The plan. Whatever it is, make it happen today. 

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August 4, 2025 Uncategorized