Cancer runs in my family - how can I cut my risk?

Q: Several people in my family have had cancer , and I’m terrified of getting it, too. How can I reduce my odds? A: It’s true that having a family history of cancer raises your risk of developing the disease. But getting sick is not inevitable.

In a recent study, researchers used 2019 data on cancer cases among US adults ages 30 and older, and they estimated that about 40% of cases were caused by lifestyle factors you can change. “That’s actually good news,” said Dr Farhad Islami, the lead author of the study and senior scientific director of cancer disparity research at the American Cancer Society. This means you may be able to lower your risk by making better decisions for your health, he said.



Here are a few steps you can take..