Children Predictive Genetic Test for Hereditary Cancer: A Position Statement

Abstract

Predictive genetic testing for children is charged with controversy since development of the bacterial inhibition to test phenylketonuria by Robert Guthrie in 1960s. Hereditary cancer accounts approximately 5% to 10% of all cancer. Predictive genetic testing to detect cancer risk for children in advance is surrounding with many problems and debates. Through review the opponents and proponents of researchers about this debatable issue, the purpose of this position statement is to argue and support predictive genetic testing for children in order to prevention, early detection, and management of cancer. Predictive genetic test for children to detect hereditary cancer is a very important aspect for primary health care centers that focus on prevention of diseases rather than treatment. Based on this review paper, more need to be done in the areas of health care procedures legislations, disease prevention and community awareness when it comes to fighting cancer disease through any type of these pre-symptomatic procedures like predictive genetic testing for children.