Cancer|Information,Research,Treatment,Alternative|GynCancerDoctor.com

A gene is a specific segment of DNA that determines a specific cell function. Genes control things like eye color, hair color, height and size. An example group of genes that are important to cancer development is the tumor suppressor genes. Such genes control the growth of a cell and its ability to repair itself if it is changed by a mutation (perhaps from an environmental insult). If a tumor suppressor gene mutates and is no longer able to stop the cell from uncontrolled growth then that cell give rise to the development of cancer.
There are hundreds of thousands of genes controlling all processes in the body. Genes are passed down through the generations. Some cancers are partly inherited (BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast and ovarian cancer), but most involve spontaneous or "sporadic" mutation in an individual due to faulty suppressor gene function, environmental insult and other factors.