cancer

is cancer hereditary ?

[April2]

It can be. I'm assuming you mean a smoking related cancer, like lung cancer? It can be genetic but it can also be environmental. All we can do is try to decrease our chances of the environmental even if our genes aren't that great.

[kathyjo]

Whenever you see a new physician they always ask for your family's medical history. I think they take into consideration all the illnesses that close family members have or do have which makes me believe that yes, it's genetic. Like April2 said, if a close family member has smoking related cancer and you smoke, then the chances are increased that you too will suffer the same fate.

Good luck and if you need our support, we will be here for you

[elwoodsf]

I have been told that cancer is genetic, part of our DNA, predetermined. It may seem silly but when I fill out any paperwork for the doctor (or visiting my current doctor) I always let them know about the cancers in my family. Since skin cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer and many other cancers run in my family, I let my doctor know about it, even if it was a "good" cancer. I was diagnosed with skin cancer in the past year and have had other tests to check for cancer. Mine was a "good" cancer which could have gone south had I not shown the doctor the spot on my leg.