Preventing Hereditary Cancer Through Genealogy

LabMind

Most hereditary cancers, including those associated with BRCA1 mutations and Lynch syndrome, can be prevented through a combination of genetic testing, surveillance, and surgery. Yet only a small minority of eligible individuals currently receive this lifesaving intervention. In this interview, Dr. Brian Shirts, director of the Institute for Public Health Genetics at the University of Washington, discusses a new nonprofit organization that uses family connections to identify individuals at high risk for hereditary cancers and other adult-onset hereditary diseases.