Are all cancers hereditary?
Some cancers are hereditary (runs in the family). Other cancers are not hereditary and may be due to lifestyle choices. For example, some types of lung cancer and bladder cancer are due to cigarette smoking.
The top 3 cancer causes of death in the U.S. are lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer per the National Cancer Institute SEER program.
Some types of lung cancer are hereditary, and others are not. For example, tobacco use (cigarette and cigar smoking) can cause lung cancer. When people stop smoking, their risk of lung cancer does drop.
Colorectal cancer is becoming more common in the U.S. especially among younger adults. Some types of this cancer are hereditary and some are not. Colorectal cancer screening for most people used to start at the age of 50 years old. However, for those with average risk of getting colorectal cancer, we now start screening at 45 years of age. Colorectal cancer is becoming more common because of the lack of physical activity, eating a diet low in vegetables and fruit, eating a diet with high amounts of processed meats (for example, lunch meat), drinking alcoholic beverages, being overweight and obese, and using tobacco.
Pancreatic cancer death rates are decreasing overall, but unfortunately there are increasing numbers of Black women who are being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As with lung and colorectal cancer, some types of pancreatic cancer are hereditary and others are not. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include tobacco use, eating a high fat diet, alcohol abuse, and exposure to certain chemicals.
Those who have a family history of certain cancers or who have certain cancers may want to undergo genetic testing.
LJ Wright, MD, PharmD, MPH
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