What Causes Cancer?
The Impact of Risk Factors

Heredity: Your family history

Although they only represent up to 10 percent of cancers, some gene changes that increase the risk of cancer are passed from parent to child.

These changes are present at birth in all cells of the body. It is uncommon for cancer to run in a family. However, certain types of cancer do occur more often in some families than in the rest of the population.

If you think you may have a pattern of a certain type of cancer in your family, you may want to talk to your doctor and a genetic counselor .

Exams which detect cancer may be ordered, as well as genetic testing.

These tests can check for certain inherited gene changes which increase the chance of developing cancer.

Some chronic health conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, can markedly increase your risk of developing certain cancers.

Talk to your doctor about your risk. If you are at increased risk, you will want to be extra vigilant about being screened. However, many people who are at increased risk will never get cancer.