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Sign Up for FORCE NewslettersInformation for People with an Inherited Mutation
People with an in their gene have increased risk for certain cancers, including:
- breast
- ovarian
- pancreatic
- (more research needed to confirm this)
People with an mutation have options for screening, prevention and treatment of . There are expert guidelines and clinical trials that focus on:
- screening and early detection
- risk-reduction
- treatment
There may be other medical concerns for people with a mutation, including a rare childhood disease known as Ataxia-Telangiesctasia (AT) which can happen in people who inherit a mutation in both copies of their gene.
Each of these topics is outlined in more detail in the sections highlighted below.
More Information on Mutations
Cancer Risks
Cancer risk estimates are updated based on the latest research. Read about the lifetime risk for different cancers in people with inherited mutations.
Risk Management Options
Read about the latest expert guidelines for cancer screening and prevention for people with an mutation. Learn about research studies enrolling high-risk patients.
Cancer Treatment Options
Tumor testing and genetic testing can provide additional clues about which treatments may work best for your cancer. People who test positive for an mutation may have additional treatment or clinical trial options available to them.
Other Considerations
People who inherit a mutation in both copies of their gene—one from each parent—have a rare disease known as Ataxia-Telangiesctasia. Learn additional information about inherited mutations.
More Resources
Watch our Videos on Mutations
Stories from the Community
June 11, 2021
by Sharmila Sandhu I have always been a private person and kept personal issues to myself and a small, insulated group of friends. Therefore, when I received my breast cancer diagnosis in summer 2020, I didn’t want to burden others. I had no...
November 01, 2022
Lynch Syndrome, an ATM Mutation and Issues of Gender Identity and Fertility Access
by Scarlett Shiloh (they/them) Unfortunately, You Have Lynch Syndrome and an ATM Mutation I remember exactly how I felt hearing my genetic counselor say the word “unfortunately.” On March 10, 2022, I found out I inherited Lynch syndrome (I...
August 24, 2020
I never worried about breast or any other cancer because the women in my family never talked about it, even though my maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 42 and years later with colon cancer.