APC: Other Considerations
Other Medical Considerations for People with FAP and AFAP
People with FAP and AFAP may have other issues to consider beyond their risk for cancer.
What are de novo mutations?
Most people who are born with an mutations inherited the mutation from one of their parents. These people will have the mutation in every cell in their body. Mutations that are inherited are called mutations. People with APC mutations develop FAP or AFAP.
About 30% of people who test positive for an mutation did not inherit the mutation from either parent. These are known as de novo mutations. A person with a de novo mutation in the gene may be the first person in their family to develop FAP or AFAP. These individuals may still be able to pass their mutation on to their children.
What can parents do to avoid passing their mutation on to their children?
Because of the high lifetime risk and early onset of medical issues with FAP and AFAP, people of reproductive age may wish to speak with a fertility expert prior to having children. There are options using assisted reproductive technology and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for parents to select embryos that are free of an inherited mutation.