In Latvia, state-funded genetic testing allows for the identification of about 90% of the most common forms of hereditary cancer. Doctors emphasize that it is especially important for people in families with a history of cancer to undergo testing.
The issue of hereditary cancer in Latvia is attracting increasing attention from medical professionals and patients. As noted by surgeon-mammologist Peteris Loza, the state genetic testing available in the country can identify approximately 90% of cases of hereditary cancer of the most common types.
Specialists pay particular attention to the BRCA1 gene, which is considered one of the most common high-risk genes among the residents of Latvia. Its mutations are associated not only with an increased likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer but can also increase the risk of other cancers, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma.
According to the doctor, there are specific genes in the human body that help prevent tumor formation. If such a protective mechanism is disrupted due to a hereditary mutation, the likelihood of developing cancer significantly increases.
Families where several relatives have been diagnosed with cancer, especially at a young age, should pay particular attention to genetic testing. Increased attention is recommended in cases of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or multiple different types of tumors in close relatives.
Loza reminds us that if one of the parents has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, the likelihood of passing it on to each child is about 50%.
What is important to know: state genetic testing in Latvia can be performed from the age of 18 with a referral from a family doctor. The examination is conducted in the hereditary cancer consultation office at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital.
At the same time, specialists emphasize that the presence of a mutation does not necessarily mean that the disease will develop. The risk of tumors usually significantly increases after the age of 40, so timely identification of hereditary predisposition allows for early monitoring and prevention.
If the standard test does not reveal changes, but the family history remains suspicious, patients may be recommended for expanded genetic testing. In this case, not only BRCA1 and BRCA2 are analyzed but also other genes associated with increased oncological risk.
According to Loza, the results of such studies help not only to assess the likelihood of disease but also to select the most effective monitoring or treatment strategy.
For example, women with a high genetic risk may be recommended annual magnetic resonance imaging of the breasts, and in some cases, preventive surgeries are considered to reduce the risk of cancer development.
The doctor notes that many people are afraid to undergo such examinations out of fear of receiving bad news. However, it is early detection of risk that provides the opportunity to take timely action.
"Knowledge allows for timely action," emphasizes the specialist.
Doctors remind us that early diagnosis remains one of the most important factors for successful treatment. When a tumor is detected at an early stage, the chances of complete recovery are very high in most cases.
According to specialists, in the future, genetic testing could become accessible to a broader segment of the population, allowing for the identification of risks even before the first signs of disease appear.
