Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer, their associated risks and guidelines for screening, preventing and treating cancers in people with inherited mutations in these genes.
Cancer risk associated with an inherited mutation
If you have tested positive for a mutation, we recommend consulting with a genetics expert who can assess your personal and family history of cancer, and can help you determine the best risk management plan.
People with an inherited have a greatly increased lifetime risk of developing several types of cancer, with about an 85 percent lifetime risk for developing any cancer. The risks for cancer tend to happen at a younger age compared to people who do not have a mutation.
Risks for women
Women who have an inherited mutation in have an increased lifetime risk for these cancers:
- Breast cancer: The lifetime risk for a women with a mutation is about 40 - 60 percent compared to 12.5 percent for an average risk woman. The average age of diagnosis is 38 - 50 years, compared to 55 - 64 years in an average risk woman.
- Endometrial cancer: The lifetime risk for a women with a mutation is about 25 - 30 percent compared to 3 percent for an average risk woman.
Risks for men and women
Men and women who have a mutation in are at increased risk of developing these cancers:
- Renal (kidney): The lifetime risk for a person with a mutation is about 30 - 35 percent compared to 1-2 percent for an average risk person.
- Thyroid: The lifetime risk for a person with a mutation is about 35 percent compared to 1 percent for an average risk person. People with inherited mutations are also at increased risk for benign thyroid conditions (e.g., goiter and benign growths)
- Colorectal: The lifetime risk for a person with a mutation is about 5 - 10 percent compared to 4 percent for an average risk woman. Most people with inherited mutations will develop colorectal and other gastrointestinal polyps, which could become cancers. These may start at a young age.
- Melanoma: The lifetime risk for a women with a mutation is about 6 percent compared to 2.5 percent for an average risk person. People with mutations may develop melanoma at a young age.
FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once you register, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
- Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
- Join one of our Zoom community group meeting:
- Caregivers
- LGBTQIA
- Men
- Meetings in American Sign Language
- Meetings in Spanish
- People of Color
- Previvors
- Young Previvors
- Survivors
- Young Survivors
updated: 03/12/2022
The following are studies enrolling people with inherited mutations.
- NCT04770246: Using TAS-117 to Treat Advanced with Inherited Mutations. This study will look at how well the TAS-117 works for treating people with an inherited mutation and advanced or (excluding primary brain tumors).
- NCT02401347: Beyond (TBB) Trial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of (a type of treatment known as a ) in patients with advanced breast cancer with specific genetic mutations based on a blood, saliva, or tumor test. This study is open to people with inherited mutations , , , , , , , , , and other genes.
- NCT02665195: Registry Of MultiPlex Testing (PROMPT). PROMPT is an online research registry. The goal of PROMPT is to help researchers to better understand the risks that are linked to mutations in less well-studied genes.
updated: 03/17/2022