![]() ![]() Family history may identify people with a modest to moderately increased risk of cancer or may serve as the first step in the identification of an inherited cancer predisposition that confers a very high lifetime risk of cancer. DNA-based information can be gathered, stored, and analyzed at any time during an individual’s life span, from before conception to after death. ![]() Sources of genetic information include biologic samples of DNA, information derived from a person’s family history of disease, findings from physical examinations, and medical records. ![]() Genetic information provides a means of identifying people who have an increased risk of cancer. As a consequence, this expanding knowledge base has implications for all aspects of cancer management, including prevention, screening, and treatment. Knowledge of cancer genetics is rapidly improving our understanding of cancer biology, helping to identify at-risk individuals, furthering the ability to characterize malignancies, establishing treatment tailored to the molecular fingerprint of the disease, and leading to the development of new therapeutic modalities. The etiology of cancer is multifactorial, with genetic, environmental, medical, and lifestyle factors interacting to produce a given malignancy. ![]()
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