Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC) marked Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week by urging people to consider genetic testing and preventive screening as key steps in identifying and managing cancers that run in families. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about inherited cancers — those triggered by genetic mutations passed from one generation to another — which are estimated to account for 5% to 10% of all cancer cases worldwide.
In India, a significant share of breast and ovarian cancer cases — over 10% — have been linked to BRCA gene mutations. Alterations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes substantially heighten the risk of developing these cancers. Another inherited disorder, Lynch syndrome, caused by mutations in DNA repair genes, is associated with a higher likelihood of colorectal and endometrial cancers, contributing to around 2% to 3% of all colorectal cancer cases in the country.
During the awareness week, specialists at ACC Chennai shared a striking real-life example involving a family from Guwahati, where four members across two generations were affected by cancers related to Lynch syndrome. The mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011, her daughter a year later, and two other children with colon cancer in 2024. All four patients are currently in stable condition.
“These instances remind us that cancer can sometimes have hereditary roots rather than being purely sporadic,” said Dr. Venkat P, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology at ACC Chennai. “Identifying families at risk through genetic counselling and regular screening is crucial to early diagnosis and prevention.”
Dr. Priya Kapoor, Consultant, Surgical Oncology, added that when multiple cancer cases appear within a family, it should not be dismissed as coincidence. “Genetic testing can guide timely surveillance and even preventive treatments,” she noted.
Experts also emphasized that individuals from high-risk families should start screening as early as 25 years of age. Early detection, they said, greatly improves outcomes and in some cases can prevent the onset of cancer altogether.