Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a hereditary condition associated with higher risks of a range of childhood- and adult-onset cancers. This condition can be passed down in a family and is caused by a faulty (disease-causing) TP53 gene.
The most common types of cancers associated with LFS include sarcomas (cancers arising from connective tissue) and:
The estimated frequency of LFS ranges between one in 5,000 to 20,000 people. These rates may change as more information is known.
Hereditary cancer makes up about 5-10% of all cases of cancer. Some genes function to protect us from cancer. When they are not working well, it causes hereditary cancer. We refer to genes that are not working well as faulty genes.
Individuals who carry a faulty cancer gene(s) have a higher chance of developing certain cancers over their lifetime compared to the general population. The types of cancers that they may be at increased risk of will depend on the gene(s) involved.
If you have a faulty cancer gene, you may be at increased risk of developing certain cancers. As genes are shared among family, other family members may have inherited the faulty gene and may be at increased risk of cancer too.
Genetic testing is offered to individuals where a hereditary cause of their personal and/or family history of cancer is suspected.
Genes contain the instructions that our body reads to carry out different functions. Genetic testing involves analysing your genes to understand if there are faults (i.e., mutations) that may increase the risk of diseases like cancer.
Hereditary cancer accounts for up to 10% of all cases of cancer.
There are 3 types of results you may receive:
