If I have no cancer in my familial history going back 3-4 generations?

Question

Does that mean my own chances of getting cancer are relatively remote? My predicesors were not healthy-lifestyle types either, they smoked, drank, the whole works.

Answer 1

Oncologists (doctors specializing in cancer) and researchers will tell you that a low incidence of cancer in your family background is preferable in decreasing your chances of developing the illness.

But your chances of developing the illness should by no means be considered remote. Like all people, you have a 25-33% chance of developing it some time within your life. Cancer has been shown to have many contributing factors, only one of which is family history. In considering your family history, you must also take into account the ever-increasing prevalence of carcinogenic materials in the environment that your ancestors didn't have to deal with.

There remains much research to be done about why some individuals and families seem to be more well-insulated against the illness. But until many more concrete answers are known--something which will undoubtedly take many more years--the best measures to reduce your chances of developing cancer are preventative ones, as discussed in the link below.

PS: Several relatives of mine lived long, cancer-free (so far as we know) lives, even though they were life-long smokers and drinkers who exercised little and ate unhealthy diets. However, the quality of their lives were compromised dramatically with other illnesses or serious limitations on activity eventually. Few people can abuse themselves chronically and avoid consequences of some kind, cancer or otherwise. In my book, quality beats quantity by a long shot.

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Answer 2

I was told that while a family history may increase the chances of cancer, Many , many who are diagnoised these days have no history in their family. Seems there are just no guarentees that any one can give you. Back gen. often people die of causes that nobody could explain. Often because of the availability of med. care. Maybe it was there & nobody knew. Ijust don't no. If you smoke best not to count on this to protect you. I do hope you are one of the lucky ones.

Answer 3

The 0.33 era does no longer have a digicam. The 4th gen. is the in straight forward words one with a digicam so a approaches, yet comments state that Apple might want to correctly be popping out with an iPod 5 in mid to late 2011 that has an same digicam because the iPhone 4 -- 8 megapixels. i do not recognize y I protected that. I purely did.

Answer 4

Let me say this: You have a better chance of not getting the types of cancers that run in families: Breast cancer, specifically. As we are all subject to pollution, hormones in our foods, etc, each of us is susceptible.

Answer 5

Sure does.

But smoking AND drinking are big time cancer risks... especially head and neck cancers.

So is smoking and sun exposure believe it or not.

I was a radiation therapist for 18yrs.

Answer 6

Not nessicarily. But your chances are lower than someone who does. Still I would do the whole breast cancer thing because it can happen to anyone and if caught early can be beaten.

Answer 7

cancer can get anyone. Your chances might be a little less but you never know

Answer 8

Yes. If you do get cancer look into environmental causes.

Answer 9

Not necessarily - not all cancers have a genetic link.

Answer 10

yes