• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Cancer lifestyle genes bad luck

Cancer: Lifestyle, Genes or Just Bad Luck

Oct 14, 2020 |
By Burke J. Brooks, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

A common question for cancer patients is, “How did I get this disease?”

Many wonder, "Could it have been prevented? Was it pre-determined in my family history? Or, was it just plain bad luck?"

As an oncologist, we can sometimes answer these questions, but in many instances, we just don’t know. What we can tell you is that statistically:

  • One-third of all cancers are tobacco-related
  • 90% of lung cancers are tobacco-related
  • Lung cancer accounts for 25% of all cancers
  • Recent research indicates smoking can leave a “footprint” in your genes even 30 years later

So, the reality is, the simple lifestyle choice of smoking affects a significant portion of cancers in the United States.

Another major contributing lifestyle factor is obesity and lack of exercise. Affecting about 20% of all cancer, obesity is commonly associated with breast, prostate and kidney cancers. How does obesity relate to an elevated risk of cancer? Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen, which has been linked to increased instances of breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, obesity is often associated with chronic low-level inflammation which can damage DNA cells over time and lead to cancer.

Early detection can save your life. Learn more about lifesaving cancer screenings at Ochsner.org/cancer-screenings

Reports currently link Louisiana with some of the highest rates of obesity in the country. One in 4 Louisiana adults is considered obese, and our state ranks in the top 10 U.S. states for both adult and childhood obesity. This correlates to the fact that we traditionally have high cancer rates as well. Perhaps equally as illuminating, studies are showing that even moderate exercise can help protect against approximately 13 different cancers.

Even though about half of all cancers can be lifestyle-related, your genes or family history play a significant role as well. If you have a family history of a certain type of cancer, it is extremely important for you to discuss that with your physician for the appropriate screening guidelines, as you may be at higher risk. The cancers most notably associated with genes are:

  • Breast
  • Ovarian
  • Colon
  • Endometriosis

And the last question: Was my cancer just back luck? Unfortunately, this answer is quite possibly but we just don’t always know. Some cancers form with no family history and in people who don’t smoke, eat right and exercise. That’s why Ochsner participates in important clinical trials so that we can learn more about how these diseases develop and how we can treat them.

By knowing that at least half of all cancers are lifestyle-related, including smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, you can significantly reduce your cancer risk by taking care of yourself. Couple this with being aware of your family history and following your personal screening guidelines and you can detect your cancer very early, oftentimes making it much more treatable.

Editors note: This article was originally published on Sep. 27, 2016.

Tags
cancer
smoking cessation
weight loss

You may also be interested in:

Obesity cancer risk
Conditions & Treatment
Oct 15, 2020

Obesity and Cancer Risk

Research has revealed one major finding you may not know which is that obesity can raise some cancer risks.
Thinkstockphotos Sb10061547Bn 001 (1)
Prevention & Wellness
Sep 11, 2020

Ovarian Cancer: Risks and Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is best treated when discovered at the earliest possible stage. Here are the common symptoms and risks associated with this deadly cancer.
Thinkstockphotos 497635903 Doctor Talking With His Patient Seriously
Conditions & Treatment
Mar 3, 2016

Kidney Cancer: Facts and Figures

In 2016, there is estimated to be approximately 63,000 new cases of kidney cancer. Protect yourself by knowing the facts and symptoms.

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Hello Health Seminars
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

* indicates required


Must Reads
Food and Fitness
Men’s Health
Parenting
Women’s Health

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:


Get Weekly Health Tips

Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide