This information explains how having a mutation in the RAD51C gene may affect you and your family.
In this resource, the word “family” means family members related to you by blood. They are not related to you through marriage or adoption.
Your RAD51C gene normally helps prevent cancers. A mutation in this gene causes it to stop working like it should. This increases your risk for certain types of cancers.
Back to topWhat is my cancer risk if I have a RAD51C mutation?
A RAD51C mutation increases your risk for ovarian cancer. A RAD51C mutation may also increase your risk for breast cancer, but more research is needed for us to better understand this risk.
As we learn more about these mutations, we may learn they increase the risk for other types of cancers. Your genetic counselor will give you more information about your cancer risk if you have a mutation.
For more information, read Hereditary Ovarian and Uterine Cancers.
For more information, read Hereditary Ovarian and Uterine Cancers - www.mskcc.org/genetics/ovarian-uterine-cancer
Back to topWhat can I do about my cancer risk if I have a RAD51C mutation?
If you have a mutation, your genetic counselor will review your results and your personal and family history of cancer and give you cancer screening recommendations.
They may recommend you start having cancer screenings at a younger age, have them more often than most people, or get specialized screenings to help find cancer as early as possible.
Some examples of these cancer screenings include having breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and mammograms (x-rays of your breast).
They may also talk with you about having surgery to remove your ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer. If you decide to have surgery, talk with your genetic counselor about the right time to have it. Surgery to remove the ovaries affects fertility (ability to have biological children). If you plan to have biological children, your genetic counselor can talk with you about your options.
Your genetic counselor will also talk with you about whether there are any other screening or prevention options that may be right for you.
Back to topWhat happens if I don’t have a RAD51C mutation?
If you don’t have a mutation, your genetic counselor will review your personal and family history and talk with you about the general cancer screening guidelines you should follow.
Back to topWhat does a RAD51C mutation mean for my blood relatives?
If you have a mutation, your biological parents, siblings, and children each have a 50% chance of having the same mutation. This means there’s an equal chance they will or won’t have the mutation. Your distant family members may also be at risk for having the same mutation.
Males and females have an equal chance of passing down a mutation in their family. You only need to inherit a mutation from one parent to have an increased risk for cancer.
Your genetic counselor will review your family history and talk with you about whether they recommend genetic testing for your blood relatives.
Back to topWhat does this mean for family planning?
If you have a RAD51C mutation and plan to have children, there are options to prevent your children from inheriting the mutation. You may want to consider discussing these options especially if both you and your partner have a RAD51C mutation.
If you both have a mutation in the RAD51Cgene, which is rare, there’s a chance your child could be born with a serious condition called Fanconi Anemia (FA). FA is a genetic disorder that can cause birth defects, bone marrow failure, and a risk of cancer. If you already have children, it’s unlikely they have FA since this is usually diagnosed early in life. For more information about genetic testing and family planning, talk with your genetic counselor.
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