Family History of Cancer – Genetic Testing in Gdańsk

A family history of cancer may be a reason to assess your inherited cancer risk. Genetic testing can identify changes in DNA that increase the likelihood of developing cancer and help guide appropriate preventive care. At Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre in Gdańsk, we offer testing for inherited cancer predisposition in women and men.

Is cancer hereditary?

A predisposition to cancer can be inherited. Finding this predisposition does not mean that a person has cancer or will definitely develop it. The level of risk depends on factors including the specific gene and variant, age, and other health and environmental influences.

Most cancers develop as a result of genetic changes acquired during a person's lifetime. Several cases of cancer in a family may have a hereditary cause, but they can also reflect shared risk factors or occur by chance.

Gene mutations – does every change increase cancer risk?

A change in DNA is called a genetic variant, traditionally also referred to as a mutation. Many variants are harmless. Testing for cancer predisposition focuses primarily on pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants, which may disrupt processes such as DNA repair or the control of cell division.

Germline variants can be inherited from parents and can usually be tested using blood or saliva. Somatic changes, by contrast, arise in the body's cells during a person's lifetime, for example during cell division or following exposure to factors that damage DNA. Changes found only in tumour cells are not passed on to children.

Family history of cancer – when should you consider genetic testing?

A consultation to assess inherited cancer risk is particularly important if:

• a relative has a known pathogenic variant that increases cancer risk;
• cancer was diagnosed at a young age, such as colorectal cancer before the age of 50;
• several relatives have had the same cancer or cancers associated with a particular hereditary syndrome;
• one person has developed several separate primary cancers or cancer in both breasts;
• there is a family history of ovarian cancer, male breast cancer or pancreatic cancer.

For some cancer diagnoses, genetic testing is recommended even without a family history of cancer. Where possible, testing within a family should begin with a relative who has had cancer.

BRCA1, BRCA2 and other genes associated with cancer

Pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 can increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as prostate and pancreatic cancer. Testing these genes is therefore relevant to both women and men. You can find more information on our page about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Another example is Lynch syndrome, which is particularly associated with an increased risk of colorectal and endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus. Testing for Lynch syndrome includes the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes, as well as specific changes in the EPCAM gene. The choice of genes to test depends on the suspected syndrome and the pattern of cancer diagnoses.

What does genetic testing for inherited cancer risk involve?

1. Personal and family medical history. It is helpful to gather information about the types of cancer and ages at diagnosis among relatives on both your mother's and father's sides, together with any available genetic test reports from your family.
2. Choosing the test. Testing may look for a known familial variant, examine a particular gene or analyse a panel of multiple genes. Genetic counselling before testing provides an opportunity to discuss what the test can and cannot tell you.
3. Sample collection. Blood or saliva is usually collected. Preparation depends on the sample type and the laboratory's instructions.
4. Analysis and discussion of the results. A doctor interprets the findings alongside your medical and family history and recommends the next steps.

Panels using next-generation sequencing, or NGS, allow multiple genes to be analysed at the same time. The scope is specified in the description of each test; a panel does not automatically cover the entire genome or every possible genetic change.

What do genetic test results mean?

• A pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant may confirm a predisposition to certain cancers and help guide surveillance and preventive care.
• A negative result means that no disease-causing changes were found within the scope of the test. It does not rule out developing cancer or every possible cause of increased cancer risk in a family.
• A variant of uncertain significance, or VUS means that there is not enough evidence to determine whether the variant increases disease risk. This finding alone is not a basis for risk-reducing surgery or a change in treatment.

A negative result is particularly informative when the test specifically looked for a disease-causing variant already identified in the family. In other situations, continued surveillance may still be appropriate despite a negative result.

What do the results mean for children and other relatives?

Cancer predisposition can be inherited from either the mother or the father, even if that parent has never developed cancer. In many hereditary cancer syndromes, including those associated with BRCA1, BRCA2 and Lynch syndrome, inheriting a pathogenic variant from one parent is sufficient to increase risk.

If such a variant is identified, a doctor may recommend targeted testing for relatives. The scope of testing and the appropriate age at which to offer it are discussed as part of genetic counselling.

How can genetic testing support cancer prevention and treatment?

Identifying a predisposition may justify starting screening earlier, arranging more frequent checks or using additional surveillance methods. Risk-reducing surgery may also be considered for selected individuals, such as mastectomy for women with certain pathogenic BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants. Care is tailored to the individual and cannot guarantee that cancer will never develop.

For someone already receiving cancer treatment, genetic test results may also influence the choice of therapy. Molecular analysis of a tumour is a separate application of genetic testing. In selected situations, tumour DNA circulating in the blood is analysed through a procedure known as a liquid biopsy. These tests may help guide treatment but do not replace testing for inherited cancer predisposition.

Genetic testing for cancer risk at Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre

Our services include BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing and genetic panels for cancer predisposition, including Cancer Screen and ONKOprofil. You can check the scope of analysis, sample type, price and expected turnaround time before providing a sample. Our full range of services is described on our genetic testing in Gdańsk page.

Sample collection and results consultations in Gdańsk

You can attend Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre at ul. Tartaczna 2 in Gdańsk for genetic test sample collection without a prior appointment:

• Monday to Friday, 08:00–12:00;
• Saturday, 09:00–12:00.

Alternative times can also be arranged. Our doctors discuss test results and the next steps, including whether a consultation with a clinical geneticist is appropriate.

To discuss the choice of test or arrange a consultation, contact Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre reception by telephone on +48 58 719 10 25 or by email at kontakt@tartaczna2.pl.