Cancer is a genetic disease. When a cancerous mutation happens inside the cell's nucleus,
uncontrolled cell division happens, which leads to cancer formation. There are two
different types of genetic mutations according to the originating cell:
• Germline Mutation: These
are mutations that happen in the egg or sperm inherited from
parents. Since these are the cells that form our entire body, these mutations can be detected in
any body cell.
• Somatic Mutation: These are mutations that happen during our life span
and
affected a particular type of body cell causing them to become cancerous. These mutations
can only be detected in the cancerous cells.
A person born with an inherited mutation in certain cell regulating genes would have a higher
risk of developing cancer than someone born without a gene mutation.