Medical statistics show that between 5% and 10% of cancers are hereditary in origin. Fortunately, the disease itself is not passed down through generations, but the risk of developing it is, which means there is no certainty of developing cancer in all cases.
Identifying families with possibly hereditary cancers is key to helping all their members to slow down the disease. The first goal is to create a preventive barrier against cancer. Secondly, in the case the disease has started to develop, the aim is to detect it early on, thus substantially improving the chances and methods of a cure.
The role of Genetic Counseling.
The Genetic Counseling Unit at MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid provides specialized care for families with hereditary or familial cancer. The aim of the unit is:
- To identify families at risk of suffering hereditary cancer.
- To carry out genetic screening to assess individual risk for each family member.
- Reliable, clear, easy-to-understand information with personalized assessment for each patient to facilitate taking the most suitable preventive or therapeutic measures.