Many experts say that genetics play a significant role in cancer risk.

In fact, some families have an increased risk of cancer due to inherited genetic changes (mutations), such as BRCA1, BRCA2 (which are associated with breast and ovarian cancer), as well as Lynch syndrome (which is associated with colon cancer, etc.).

There are also more than one type of genetic change that is associated with a higher or lower risk of cancer. These types and other risk factors are as follows:

Gremlin changes: Genetic changes that are inherited at birth, are present throughout the body, and fundamentally affect the risk of cancer.

Somatic changes: Changes that occur in cells during life, due to environmental factors, age, etc. These are also important, but their effect is different from that of hereditary changes.

Multiple genes: Not just one or two genes with a major cancer effect, but many small gene mutations can also increase the risk level. Their interaction with environmental factors is also important.

Interaction of genes with the environment: Genetic cancer risk can be further increased or decreased by environmental factors such as smoking, pollution, diet, radiation, etc. That is, genetic inheritance is the basis of cancer, but environmental influences can modify the risk.