Familial risk and cancer control
H. T. Lynch, F. D. Brodkey, P. Lynch, J. Lynch, K. Maloney, L. Rankin, C. Kraft, M. Swartz, T. Westercamp and H. A. Guirgis
An intensive study of the family history of cancer in 4,515 patients
screened consecutively by a multiphasic mobile cancer detection unit
showed, after age correction, that cancer had developed in 8.9% of the
probands when there was one cancer in a single first-degree relative, 16.2%
had cancer with two family members affected, and 27.4% had cancer when
three or more family members had been affected. This constituted a
significant correlation between family and personal histories of cancer in
these patients. Extrapolation to the United States population with
cancer-control implications are given.
