Some types of cancer seem to track in families. In America today, half of all men and one-third of all women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. More than eight million people are living with cancer today or have been cured of the disease. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better the chances of a cure. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease such as cancer.
Different cancers have different risk factors.
But why cancer strikes some people and not others is not entirely known. Many people with multiple risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors will develop the disease. A few types of cancer have no warning signs until they are well advanced. But most types do produce symptoms to indicate that something is not right in the body. You can protect yourself by knowing cancer's seven warning signs, getting regular physical exams, and examining yourself regularly.