Signs of an Inherited Mutation

Signs of an Inherited Mutation in a Cancer Gene 

If you or a relative have been diagnosed with cancer, it may be due to an inherited mutation. Signs of an inherited mutation or hereditary cancer include the following:

You have a blood relative who has tested positive for an inherited gene mutation linked to cancer.

OR

You or any of your family members have had:

• Pancreatic, ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal or male breast cancer at any age.
• Breast, colorectal or endometrial cancer at age 50 or younger.
• Two separate cancer diagnoses.
• A type of breast cancer called “triple-negative breast cancer” at any age.
• Prostate cancer at age 55 or younger or metastatic prostate cancer.
• Colorectal cancer at any age with tumor testing that shows microsatellite instability (MSI-High) or other tumor test results that are suggestive of Lynch syndrome.
• Endometrial cancer at any age with tumor testing that shows microsatellite instability (MSI-High) or other tumor test results that are suggestive of Lynch syndrome.
• More than 10 colon polyps.
• Rare or young-onset cancers.
• Tumor testing that shows a mutation in a gene associated with hereditary cancer.
• Eastern European Jewish ancestry and breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer at any age.

OR

More than one family member on the same side of your family has had a combination of the following cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Melanoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Rare or young-onset cancers

This is not a complete list; other cancers may be hereditary too. If you would like to learn if the cancer in your family is hereditary, it is important to speak with a genetics expert.