Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Risk Assessment and Genetic Counseling

Abstract

Overview Understanding the etiology of cancer combines a multitude of factors including genetic, environmental, health, and lifestyle influences on the pathway to malignancy. While single‐gene‐inherited causes for cancer account for only 5–10% of cancer cases, identifying these individuals and their family members can provide insights into tumorigenesis, improvement in therapeutic outcomes, and prevention of cancer development in some cases. The process of evaluating an individual's cancer history as well as their family history is key in ascertaining those at risk for hereditary cancer.