The genetic factors at the origin of cancers of the prostate, colorectal and breast cancer, are established. And as proof, which woman has not been questioned about her family history during a gynecological visit for example? But concerning cancer risks, the debate persists despite everything between embarrassment and the environment. Following their study, Swedish researchers found that genetics is a more important risk factor than lifestyle.
This study, led by Bengt Zoller, professor at Lund University in Sweden and the results of which appeared in the European Journal of Cancer, was based on a group of 70,965 adopted children born between 1932 and 1969. Their diagnoses were carried out between 1958 and 2010. After studying in the Swedish Cancer Registry, the data of both biological and adoptive parents, the researchers found that genetics is a higher risk factor than lifestyle, in the development of breast, prostate or colorectal cancer.
If one of the two biological parents has cancer, the child has an 80-100% greater chance of developing the same, compared to a child whose parent does not have cancer. “The results of our study do not mean that an individual’s lifestyle is not important in the risk of developing cancer, but it does suggest that the risk for the three most common types of cancer depends to a large extent. measurement of genetics “specifies Pr Zoller. The study also observes that adopted children who have had a biological parent with cancer develop one at an older age.
Ask more about the family history of patients
A study to be taken all the more seriously since the Swedish witnesses studied were adopted before the age of one year, therefore were removed from the family environment of their biological parents. Moreover, based on people who do not share the same environment as their biological parents, the researchers bring less questionable conclusions about the influence of genetics on cancer.
New conclusions essential for clinics in the evaluation of cancer risk in patients: “the appearance of breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer in biological parents is an important risk factor that should be included in the history and medical examinations of patients, “says Prof. Zoller.
It therefore seems very important that doctors question patients even more about their family history so that they can set up other tests necessary to track down disease.
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