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Other Considerations

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.

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Other Medical Concerns for People with Inherited Mutations

People with develop noncancerous tumor-like growths called hamartomas. These growths most often form in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the stomach and intestines. 

Children with often develop small, dark-colored spots on the lips, around and inside the mouth, near the eyes and nostrils, and around the anus. These spots may also occur on the hands and feet. These spots appear during childhood and often fade as the person gets older. Most people with develop multiple in the stomach and intestines during childhood or adolescence. can cause health problems such as recurrent bowel obstructions, chronic bleeding, and abdominal pain beginning at a young age. 

Some people with mutations have mutations that they did not inherit from either parent. These are known as "de novo" mutations. People with de novo mutations can pass them on to their children. 

Because of the high lifetime risk and early onset of medical issues with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, people of reproductive age may wish to speak with a fertility expert prior to having children. There are options using assisted reproduction technology and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for parents to select embryos that are free of an inherited  mutation. 

 

Last updated March 19, 2022