Cancer is caused by gene alterations within body cells. Mostly, these alterations have happened by chance within cells that turn into cancer. These are called ‘acquired’ or ‘somatic’ gene alterations.
Somatic gene alterations are new gene alterations that happen by chance at some point during a person’s lifetime.
They are not inherited gene alterations. Separate testing on a blood sample is needed to look for possible inherited gene alterations that increase the risk of cancer.
The patient information booklet on this page is about genetic testing for inherited causes of cancer.
Non-urgent advice: Local printing instructions
To print this resource locally, you will need to do the following:
- 'Page Sizing and Handling' - select the 'booklet' option.
- Choose Both sides if your printer does automatic double-sided (duplex) printing. Choose Front side only (print, flip, and reinsert) if it does not.
- Sheets from/to: Leave on All.
- Binding: Set to Left.
- Check the preview to the right to ensure everything looks correct, then click Print.
- If your printer does not print on both sides (i.e. duplex) you should get a prompt to re-insert the pages to begin printing on the reverse side. Ensure they are the correct orientation so that pages do not appear upside down.
For any queries relating to printing or local Trust use of this leaflet please contact Ian Kingsbury, Communications Lead: i.kingsbury@nhs.net