A Family History of Lung Cancer

By David Smidev 

 

Lungs are part of the body, in charge for breathing. Lung cancer is caused by abnormal cells that develop into a malignant tumor. The factors that lead to the disease are many.

Researchers are having a look at the effect of family history on the cancer. It is possible that there is minimally one faulty lung cancer gene that could be passed down in families. If you have a first degree relative with

the cancer, your risk is doubled. It is very difficult to sort out the facts here, as a consequence of the main role of smoking. Smoker's families will all be exposed to cigarette smoke and thus have an increased risk whether they have inherited a faulty gene or not.

However, while tobacco is the prime risk factor, family history plays a significant but secondary role. Individuals with a family history of lung cancer possibly will have less of a capacity to repair smoking related DNA damage, thus leading to increased unpleasant incident of the cancer.

There is increasing proof that factors of genetic [for instance your family history] can be part of the cause to lung cancer risk. The cancer causing chemicals in your cells, encompassing your lung cells, are formed by biochemical processes. Genes determine to these processes. A number of genes might allow more of the cancer causing chemicals to be produced; other genes may allow less. A family whose genes allow more of the chemicals to be produced possibly will be more at risk to the consequences of cigarette smoke and other things in the environment.

 

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