Sometimes genes that we inherit from our parents cause cancer. An example is the BRCA1 gene that causes some cases of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Some people have the bad luck to inherit this gene. However, that doesn’t mean there is nothing a person can do about it. It is possible to test a person to see if they have inherited this gene. If so, the risk of cancer caused by the gene can be greatly reduced by careful monitoring and, if necessary, surgery.