“Making Cancer History means putting everything we have into research, into therapies, into providing quality of life for cancer survivors.

Cancer itself can't be passed down from parents to children. And genetic changes in tumor cells can't be passed down. But a genetic change that increases the risk of cancer can be passed down (inherited) if it is present in a parent's egg or sperm cells.

About 5 to 10 percent of cancers are thought to be hereditary. In these cases, an individual inherits a copy of a growth control gene with a mutation from one parent, and a working copy of the same gene from the other parent.

Inherited cancers are those caused by a mutation in a gene that was present in the egg or sperm cell at the time of fertilization. These cancers make up a fraction of common cancers - like breast, colon, and prostate cancer - as well as less common cancers like pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

Evolution seems to have favored some relatively common resistance genes that protect the majority of humans against cancer development.

Inherited cancers are those caused by a mutation in a gene that was present in the egg or sperm cell at the time of fertilization. These cancers make up a fraction of common cancers - like breast, colon, and prostate cancer - as well as less common cancers like pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

Evolution seems to have favored some relatively common resistance genes that protect the majority of humans against cancer development. One day, finding out how nature keeps most of us cancer-free could help identify and repair specific genetic mechanisms in the large minority of individuals who do suffer from cancer.

Up to 10% of all cancers may be caused by inherited genetic changes. Inheriting a cancer-related genetic change doesn't mean you will definitely get cancer. It means that your risk of getting cancer is increased.

All cancer is triggered by altered genes. However, only five to 10 per cent of cancers are actually hereditary. Heredity may sometimes appear to be the reason for a cancer, especially when the same types of cancers run in families.

The list is usually topped with berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes and other vegetables, fruits and nuts. "If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, it's pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals," says Wohlford.

Cancer is caused by both internal factors (such as inherited mutations, hormones, and immune conditions) and environmental/acquired factors (such as tobacco, diet, radiation, and infectious organisms; Fig. 1).

Also see preventing cancer with the HPV vaccine.

1. Don't smoke.
2. Maintain a healthy weight.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
5. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
6. Protect yourself from the sun.
7. Protect yourself from infections.
8. Get screening tests regularly.