Could my child pass cancer on to his/her future children?

The possibility of your child passing cancer onto his or her child is worrisome, and perhaps your concerns have not yet been addressed.

It is important to realize that most types of cancers occur spontaneously; that is, they are not inherited but are caused by genetic mutations that occur within each individual.

In a small percentage of cancer cases, a gene mutation associated with the cancer can be passed on to the next generation. The best example of this is a woman who has mutations in the BRCA gene that increase her risk of developing breast cancer.

If you know that you, your partner, or your child has a gene associated with cancer that can be passed on to another generation, make sure that the oncologist and fertility specialist know about it. If your child eventually chooses to go through the process of IVF as an adult, it may be possible to select embryos that do not carry the gene.