Why do some cancer patients need cancer genetic testing and some don't?
According to data released by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, there will be 19.29 million new cancer cases and 9.96 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2020. Cancer has become one of the biggest threats to human health in the 21st century!
However, few people realize that genes are also one of the important factors that cause cancer. In recent years, genetic detection technology for cancer has become a hot topic, and it has been widely used in many large tertiary hospitals in China. From early screening, follow-up, to post-mortem monitoring, cancer diagnosis and treatment are almost inseparable from genetic detection technology. But for cancer genetic testing technology, people have many questions: What is the use of cancer genetic testing? Why do some cancer patients need cancer genetic testing and some don't?
What is the use of cancer genetic testing?
Current cancer genetic testing, which can understand cancer types and guide treatment, is mainly aimed at patients diagnosed with cancer. On the one hand, genetic testing is helpful for the diagnosis of cancer. For example, some types of cancer patients will be positive for characteristic genes, such as high alpha-fetoprotein, which may indicate the possibility of liver cancer.
On the other hand, cancer genetic testing facilitates the determination of treatment options. Detecting the presence or absence of drug-resistant mutant genes can know in advance whether a patient will be resistant to a certain drug, thereby helping cancer patients gain time to find safer and more effective anti-cancer drugs. From the perspective of precision treatment, genetic testing is more conducive to the standardized treatment of cancer.
Carrying a gene mutation associated with a certain cancer, will you have cancer?
Many people believe that if you carry a genetic mutation associated with a certain type of cancer, you will definitely get cancer. In fact, this understanding is biased. First of all, the susceptibility genes of many cancer types have not been found. In addition, even if you have a susceptibility gene, you may not necessarily get cancer. If you are anxious all day long for something that is uncertain whether it will happen in the future, it will not be worth the loss, and it will be detrimental to your health. In terms of the proportion of cancer factors, external factors actually account for a larger proportion. Even in cancers with a genetic predisposition, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer, not too many have significantly mutated genes. And some family-aggregated cancers may be closely related to the family's lifestyle and eating habits, such as their love of pickled food and hot food. Therefore, the best way to prevent cancer is to have a good lifestyle, eating habits and attitude towards life.
Why do some cancer patients need cancer genetic testing and some don't?
In fact, not all cancer patients need to do cancer genetic testing. You can decide whether to do or not to do it according to your own situation.
For people who do not have cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that cancer genetic testing be considered for the following groups: Multiple first-degree relatives (parents, sisters, brothers, children, etc.) with cancer; relatives with the same cancer; multiple people in the family have a group of cancers associated with a single gene mutation, such as breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers associated with BRCA gene mutations;
A family member with multiple different types of cancer at the same time; a family member with cancer at a younger-than-normal age, such as cancer diagnosed before age 50; a family member with cancer associated with a rare hereditary cancer syndrome; a family member with cancer associated with a rare hereditary cancer syndrome Someone has a rare cancer, such as male breast cancer or retinoblastoma; someone in the family has a genetic disorder, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, Lynch syndrome, etc.; one or more people in the family have had genetic testing , and carry cancer-related gene mutations.
Epilogue
In conclusion, although cancer genetic testing technology is becoming more and more mature, there are still some genetic mutations that cause cancer that have not been found, and there are also certain limitations. With the progress of the times and the rapid development of science and technology, we expect that cancer gene detection technology can provide more powerful support for mankind to defeat cancer.