Breast Cancer Advice Center

Am I at a higher risk for Cancer?

Both my mother and father passed away with cancer. My mother had Inflammatory Breast Cancer and passed away when I was 9 and my father had Colorectal Cancer and passed away when I was 11. I am now 17 and beginning to wonder just how much at risk I will be in the future.

Public Comments

1. Michael, I am so, soo sorry for you. I have kids your age, and I know how hard is to be left without parents. You don't have to be stressed about your future that much, all you have to do is to adopt another life stile than your parents had.
   Its very important to maintain a good immunity level, to avoid junk food (I always tel this to my kids), stay away as much as you can from fast food. Fast food is fatty food.
   Trans fats its number one enemy, and high fructose corn syrup.(you find it in pops)
   A liver cleanse and collon cleanse will do very good, its very important.
   http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/liver_...
   And the rest??? Live it in Gods hands, He will take care of you, Its a promise made by Him, He is the Father of the orphans, and its true. God bless you.
2. i fell srry for u but dont worry just because yur parentz had it dosent mean yur gonna have it, eat lots of pizza and tomatoes
3. Sorry to hear about ya parent..
   yes..u r at higher risk of getting cancer sice both ur mom and dad had it..
   so, i suggest u better do regular medical checkup and talk with ur dr about the risk..
   u cant determine it ur self..because symptoms of cancer r various depending on which parts of ur body been affected...
   remember..its better to prevent than to cure..gud luck!
4. There are genetic indicators that can be tested to see your risk for cancer. There are several reason that one area in the world may have more cancer than another...such as high radiation areas...so, the link to both parents having cancer may not be as genetic as you thought.
   I would gather a plan early and stick to it throughout your life. There are so many more drugs and treatments for many more types of cancer in this day a time. Both breast cancer and colon cancer have more ways of being detected early and better treatments.
   You may have a greater chance for cancer and therefore need to set up your schedule with your doctor to keep track of the signs and indicators on a regular basis so you can get quick treatments that have a high chance for eliminating the cancer and its recurrences. You are smart to be concerned and seem to be smart enough to stay on top of it. I would also like to give my respectful sympathy for what you have had to live through and the parents that you had to give up far too early. I hope your life is blessed in the future. NV
5. Anyone who has cancer in an immediate family member is more "at risk" than other individuals. But that doesn't mean you will get it. Talk to your general practitioner for advice on how to keep track of what is "normal" and what is "not normal". Any rapid changes in the way your body functions can indicate a problem.
   
   http://www.cancure.org/cancer_symptoms.h... cancer symptoms
   http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/conten... more signs and symptoms
   
   I listed sites below about cancer and also about living as healthy as possible.
   
   http://www.southeastmissourihospital.com... statistics describing the risk of developing cancer
   http://cancer.about.com/od/geneticcancer... hereditary cancers -- you can look at each type to find the likelihood of developing one of these cancers
   
   Do your best to eat right, exercise and have at least a physical yearly. If your doctor recommends more often, then go, but -- at your age -- you shouldn't be at very high risk.
   
   You will very likely have to start getting a colonoscopy every 5 years once you hit age 30. It's the best way to diagnose colorectal cancer. Eating right (lots of fiber and little red meat like beef) has been shown to reduce your chances of getting cancer.
   
   The best thing to do for yourself is to keep a diary of anything that causes you concern. You can visit your doctor and have the diary at hand so that you won't forget to ask something you really need to know.
   
   Good luck, and I hope that you live a long and healthy life.
6. MICHAEL, FIRST LET ME EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY .
   
   CANCER IS ON THE UPRISE. AFTER WORKING IN HOSPICE CARE MOST OF MY PATIENTS HAVE CANCER. I JUST LOST MY DAUGHTER IN LAW WITH BREAST CANCER AND MY SISTER IN LAW WITH LIVER CANCER.
   
   I THING YOU NEED TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF AND WATCH FOR ANY SIGNS. THE ENVIRONMENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH CANCER.
   
   NO SMOKING AND WATCH YOUR DIET, WEARING A HAT TO PROTECT YOU FROM SKIN CANCER. HAVE A PHYSICAL REGULARLY. THAT WAY YOU COULD CATCH ANY PROBLEM EARLY THAT IS LIFE SAVING.
   
   IF YOU GO INTO THE MILITARY THEY WATCH YOU VERY CLOSELY AND HAVE GOOD MEDICAL CARE. SO YOUR CAREER HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT.
   
   JUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.....YOU ARE VALUABLE..GOD BLESS YOU AND COMFORT AND KEEP YOU.
7. You do seem to be at a higher risk than others. Just be sure to go to your doctors regularly and get a good thorough check up. A lot of cancers can be prevented or treated 100% in their very early stages.