Cancer is a serious health condition marked by abnormal growth of body’s cells. The body does not have any natural mechanism to control this growth and medical intervention (such as, surgery, radiation, chemo) is required to manage the illness. In advanced stages, treatment fails to kill cancerous cells and eventually, the disease causes death to patients.
What if cancer can be prevented? Won’t it be a great idea? Of course. Each type of cancer has some kinds of risk factors. Unfortunately, avoiding the risk factors does not make you immune to the disease. This is the scenario where gene testing is making lots of noises. The entire concept of gene testing is based on detecting any unfavorable gene mutation, which could lead to cancer or other serious illnesses over time.
Genetic Changes and Cancer Occurrence
Not all gene mutations are worrisome. But certain mutations play a key role in cancer formation and progress. This mutation works like a trigger for abnormal and rapid multiplication of cells, which eventually become a cancerous mass. Several factors trigger genetic changes and continuation of the process.
Some cancers are hereditary. For example, if you have a family history of breast cancer or colon cancer, it increases your risk of developing the disease. You know Hollywood Star Angelina Jolie? In 2013, she underwent double mastectomy. No, she was not diagnosed with breast cancer. But she came to know about her elevated risk of developing breast cancer. Her gene testing revealed BRCA1 gene mutation, one of the recognized factors for developing the disease.
Today, the physicians at the best oncology hospital in India think that Ms. Jolie became the role model for many women who now don’t hesitate to go under the knife for prophylactic mastectomy. However, these women are mostly from the upper class American society. In India, little has been done to make people aware of the benefits of gene testing.
Gene testing is done for detecting some of the genetic changes that can enhance your risk for cancer development. Hence, you need to know if you are the right candidate for the test.
Nearly 5-10% of all cancers are caused by gene mutations that are either inherited or can happen at any point of time in our life. Just because you have inherited a mutated gene, it does not mean you will get cancer but you are certainly at a higher risk for developing a particular type of cancer.
Medical testing tries to assess if you have any unhealthy gene mutation that can form a cancerous mass over time. This kind of testing is known as predictive gene testing. However, not all persons are candidates for such testing. It is only recommended for those who have a history of cancer in their family and are suspected of having gene mutation.
Types of Cancer Predictable from Gene Testing
Gene testing is done to assess the risks for certain types of cancers including:
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Talk to a physician at the best oncology hospital in Kolkata and learn if you really need gene testing for your risk assessment.