Can cancer be hereditary or not? It is generally believed that hereditary tumors account for only 1 to 3 percent of all human tumors, and only a few malignant tumors have a familial genetic background. In these hereditary tumor families, the previous parents can pass on the mutated gene that causes the tumor to the next generation of children. However, it is important to emphasize that for hereditary malignancies, children carrying the mutated gene only implies an increased risk and likelihood of developing the tumor, and in no way indicates that the tumor disease itself has been carried. Therefore, a family history of cancer does not necessarily mean that a person will get cancer. Studies have shown that the occurrence of tumors is the result of long-term interaction between genes in the body and many external environmental factors. People who have a genetic family history of cancer must pay attention to the prevention of cancer. Not only should they strengthen self-care, maintain emotional stability, balance diet and nutrition, get enough sleep, exercise moderately, pay attention to the combination of work and rest, change bad habits such as smoking and alcoholism, but also consider the choice of marriage, childbirth and working environment, and try to avoid the influence of harmful rays and toxins in the environment. At the same time, we should insist on receiving regular health checkups and genetic counseling to keep abreast of the risk of cancer and preventive measures for ourselves and our next generation. We should strive for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment so as to effectively reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. What are the cancers with genetic basis that require vigilance and prevention? Hepatocellular carcinoma – children are the target of primary prevention: If parents are found to have hepatocellular carcinoma, children are the target of primary prevention, because the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus tends to cause the tendency of family gathering of hepatocellular carcinoma. Especially, mothers with hepatitis B virus have a higher chance of liver cancer in their offspring. Therefore, if a family has liver cancer patients, it is advisable for their children to immediately undergo a comprehensive liver examination, including hepatitis B five tests and liver ultrasound, etc. If the same hepatitis B is detected, they should actively cooperate with the doctor for anti-viral treatment and liver protection treatment; if they do not have hepatitis B, they should have regular medical checkups to prevent cancer scientifically. Breast cancer: If a mother has cancer before menopause, her daughter is at risk: If a family has breast cancer, their children and relatives should also check their “breasts” because breast cancer has a clear genetic tendency. Generally speaking, daughters of mothers with breast cancer are two to three times more likely to get breast cancer than other women. To determine if you have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, there is a way to tell: if your mother or sister had breast cancer before menopause, then you have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. If your mother was older when she had breast cancer and she is the only one in your family who had breast cancer, there is no need to worry too much. Breast self-examination is a must for all women, in addition to ultrasound and mammograms. In addition, it is recommended that women with a family history of breast cancer should have children early (before 30 years old) and breastfeed, and that women during menopause should not use estrogen-containing drugs indiscriminately to minimize breast cancer triggering factors and reduce its incidence. Bowel cancer – cancerous potential intestinal polyp disease: Under normal circumstances, intestinal polyps are not harmful to the human body. However, familial polyposis, or multiple adenomatous polyps that grow in the colon, has a high tendency to become malignant and may lead to colon, rectal and duodenal tumors. Familial polyposis has obvious family aggregation, so in order to avoid “inherited” bowel cancer, it is important to check if there are any relatives in the family who have colon polyposis, and the offspring of such patients should undergo colonoscopy early and keep doing it every year. It is important to note that the disease has a tendency to be inherited from one generation to another, which means that if the parents do not have the disease, it does not mean that the children do not have the disease. Gastric cancer – Diffuse gastric cancer is often “hereditary”: Recent studies have shown that some gastric cancers have a genetic predisposition. It is generally believed that if at least two people in a family have the disease in one or two generations, and one person is younger than 50 years old, and all patients are diffuse, then hereditary gastric cancer can be considered. If you are born in such a family, then you should always be careful. Of course, this heredity is not a direct tumor inheritance, but an individual’s predisposition to develop cancer. Children of such patients should still avoid exposure to fermented, smoked and barbecued foods. H. pylori infection also increases the risk of gastric cancer, but maintaining a hygienic diet can reduce H. pylori infection in the stomach and reduce the risk of precancerous lesions and gastric cancer by 40%. It is also important to quit smoking and alcohol. If you have any discomfort in the stomach area, you should go to the hospital for a clear diagnosis as early as possible to prevent cancer.