Q: I have an aunt who’s had three different kinds of cancer. What the heck is going on?
A: Even though her cancers may not seem related, they all probably stemmed from the same genetic or environmental factors. We all have cancer-suppressing genes that prevent cells from growing into tumors—if one of those genes is defective, it could make a person more susceptible to all types of cancer. And you’ve no doubt heard of the breast cancer genes BRCA-1 and 2—well, they’re also related to cancer of the ovaries, pancreas, stomach and colon. We’ve identified only a few of these genetic markers, so even in cases when multiple cancers seem completely random, they’re likely connected by genes we haven’t found yet.
Q: What about the environmental factors you mentioned? Do you mean like a polluted town?
A: I’m mainly talking about cigarette smoke. So many cancers are related to smoking—lung cancer, of course, but also leukemia and cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, colon, bladder, cervix…the list is endless. Living or working around smoke can increase a person’s risk of getting any or all of those.
Q: Are there any ways to protect yourself?
A: Absolutely. Not smoking and avoiding smoky bars and restaurants, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in saturated fat and limiting alcoholic drinks to one a day can help protect you against a variety of cancers. Keep up with regular screenings like breast exams and Pap smears, and always be sure to tell your current doctor about any family history of cancer so he can determine whether you should get early-detection tests, like mammogram or colonoscopy, at a younger age than is usually recommended.