Half of Testicular Cancers Were Found to Be Familially Inherited (Hereditary)

Why and how cancer develops is among the questions that occupy us most. I believe we will one day find the complete answer, but until then we must progress sometimes in small steps and sometimes at a run. Today's study moves us rapidly toward understanding cancer's causes. Nearly half of testicular cancers, the most common cancer type in men aged 15-35, were found to be familially inherited (hereditary).

Testicular cancer most commonly presents as painless swelling in one or both testes and is usually diagnosed early. It responds very well to treatment, with more than %95 of patients continuing their lives disease-free afterward. Its causes, particularly because it occurs in young people, have been among the greatest concerns of many patients, families and clinicians.

A new study published in Scientific Reports analyzed data from 10310 British and Swedish testicular cancer patients. It found that %49 of all causes increasing the likelihood of developing testicular cancer are hereditary. Men with a family history therefore have a higher risk.

What Does It Mean That Nearly Half of Testicular Cancers Are Hereditary?

Researchers found that hereditary risk arises from numerous small variations (changes) in our DNA rather than a single faulty gene. Some are well known, while others await identification.

In conclusion, the better we understand cancer's causes and the genetic changes leading to it, the easier it becomes to treat. More importantly, this should also be the first step in cancer prevention.

If you wish, you can visit our testicular cancer page for detailed information about the disease and its treatment.