The Tyler Medical Clinic

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- Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis - PGD -

PGD for Prevention of Cancer

Preimplantantion Genetic Diagnosis can also be offered for prevention of cancer in families with a history of a determined cancer.

The exact cause of Cancer is unknown.  Men or women with familial history of a determined Cancer are at an increased risk, lending support to a belief that Cancer may be hereditary in some cases.  Some cases of Cancer have been traced to genetic abnormalities. For example, we can look at breast cancer. Those without the genetic background and genetic line have a risk of 2% to 10% of developing breast cancer depending on age. On the other hand, those with a definite genetic line face a higher danger, up to 70%, of developing cancer of the breast.

In cancers that are more prevalent in one gender than the other, for example as in the case of Prostate Cancer, where it exclusively occurs among males, PGD will reduce the chances of having an affected child. The Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis can find the gender of the embryo prior to implantation inside the uterus. Using PGD to implant only female embryos will ensure the couple with a strong family history of this disease that their child will not be affected with Prostate Cancer.

Couples should consult with a genetic counselor about their actions.  PGD can currently test for a variety of diseases, inclusive of X-linked diseases, and those that primarily affect a specific gender.  PGD is continuously being improved so we may be able to test for more and more genetic disorders in the near future.

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Last modified: 06/09/04