When people think about reducing their risk of chronic diseases like cancer, most consider changing their diet and lifestyle and replacing bad habits with healthier alternatives. Among the different determinants contributing to cancer risk—biological/genetic, environmental, behavioral, health care, and social determinants—your family genetics is one factor that cannot be changed and must be closely examined to reduce and mitigate the risk of cancer.
The 2020 census reported that 46.9 million people in the United States identified as Black or African American, making this the third largest ethnic group in the country[1]. Although Black people make up the third largest ethnic group, they have the highest death rates and the shortest survival rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers1. These disparities include increased incidence and mortality rates among Black people associated with lung, prostate, and breast cancers—cancers where family genetics is a significant risk factor.
Here are three essential things for all communities to know about family history to help reduce your cancer risk:
1. Recognize an inherited or family cancer syndrome
Cancer can sometimes be caused by an abnormal gene that is passed from generation to generation. This is known as a family or inherited cancer syndrome. It is the gene that can lead to cancer that is inherited, not cancer itself[2].
When trying to determine if cancer might run in your family, first collect some information. For each case of cancer, look at:
- Who has the cancer? How are you related? Which side of the family are they on (mother’s or father’s)?
- What type of cancer is it? Is it rare?
- How old was this relative when they were diagnosed?
- Did this person get more than one type of cancer?
- Did they have any known risk factors for their type of cancer (such as smoking for lung cancer)?
- Has anyone in the family with or without cancer had genetic testing and did that testing show any abnormal genes?
2. Understand genetic testing for cancer risk
If you do have a strong family history of cancer and want to learn about your genetic makeup, ask your doctor to refer you to a genetic counselor first to learn about the benefits and risks of genetic testing.
It’s important to know that having an inherited genetic mutation does not mean you will get cancer. It does put you at a higher risk for developing a certain type or types of cancer[3].
Check your knowledge on these common myths about cancer and family history:
Myth: If cancer runs in my family, I will get it, too.
Reality: Sometimes people in the same family get cancer because they share behaviors that raise their risk, not because they share genes. Behaviors that increase risk include smoking, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of exercise. In other cases, cancer can be caused by an abnormal gene that is passed down. But what is inherited is not the cancer itself, but the abnormal gene that may—or may not—lead to cancer.
Myth: If no one in my family has cancer, I won’t get it either.
Reality: Most people diagnosed with cancer don’t have a family history of the disease. Only about 5% to 10% of all cases of cancer are inherited.
Myth: If I have a strong family history of cancer, there is nothing I can do to protect myself.
Reality: Screening can help prevent some types of cancer from ever occurring or detect them early when they might be easier to treat. Talk to your doctor about what tests you need and when you should begin getting them. Everyone, no matter their family history, can help lower their cancer risk by avoiding tobacco; staying at a healthy weight; eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and getting enough exercise.
3. Take measures to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer.
Here is a helpful list of resources for cancer risk, prevention, and screening:
- Find Cancer Early
- Stay Away from TobaccoLink to content
- Eat Healthy & Get Active
- Be Safe in the Sun
- Protect Against HPV
- Cancer Facts
- What Causes Cancer?
4. (BONUS) Join the fight against cancer!
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN engages volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to ensure that our cities, our states and our nation adopt evidence-based public policies that improve the lives of people with cancer and their families.
Join the fight here. Already a volunteer? Consider joining the Black Volunteer Caucus to continue advancing the inclusion and involvement of the Black community in ACS CAN’s initiatives and campaigns.