is there a way to take a test and see if you have a cancer gene?

Question

ive heard of it, but i was wondering if anyone knew the exact name of it and everything?

Answer 1

It is BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing for breast cancer. They also test for a couple of other genes that they now think are linked with testing for various types of cancer.

Answer 2

With rare exceptions, no one gene 'causes' cancer. Most cancers have dozens, even hundreds, of genes that have become mutated. In most cases of cancer you are not born with a mutated gene(s) but develop mutations to genes in the cancer cells (thus making them cancer cells) over 15 to 30 years.

As one answerer noted, you can be tested for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (as well as other high risk genes) that you were born with. However, this testing is generally only rational in patients at high risk for these mutations (that is, they have a strong family history of cancers related to these types of mutations).

Most cancers result from damage that occurs to genes during your life and are not the result of damaged genes that you carry from birth. Your lifestyle and diet play a critical role in this process. Unless you have a high risk for specific cancers, you may be better off spending your time, energy and money testing your nutritional status and toxicity status than any particular 'gene testing'.

It is not 'the genes' that cause cancer, but rather, the damage your lifestyle does to your genes.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 3

You can test for some different genes that may cause different cancers. I have heard of them testing for a gene that may cause some breast cancers and, for children, there is a test for a gene that may be responsible for some Wilms Tumors. There is not one gene that causes all cancers.

Answer 4

i dont know the name sorry but your gp can do it for you :)