cancer and genetic make-up

Why do some people get cancer while others don't? We often hear that it has to do with the food we eat or the lifestyle we lead or the environment we are exposed to or the genes we were born with. But then we too have seen how people who live a healthy & happy lifestyle also end up with cancer. Cancer is a complex disease. We will probably never really know the answer.

Let me share two real-life stories. One is my 80-plus aunty whom I address as "Tuayi" (a Hokkien word for eldest sister of one's mother). It is our family tradition to visit Tuayi on the first day of Lunar New Year. Tuayi is a heavy smoker & smokes like a chimney. I often feel suffocated by the strong smell of cigarette smoke permeating throughout her house. Despite having smoked all her entire life, Tuayi has never suffered from cancer or any other critical illnesses. And today Tuayi spends her sunset years puffing away happily each day.

In comparison, a former colleague of mine died of lung cancer yesterday. He was 64. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer three years ago while doing a routine check-up. As far as I know, he had always been healthy & seldom fell sick. And he was not a smoker. But he got lung cancer.

It seems to me like those who smoke don't get cancer and those who don't smoke get cancer. And I have heard of many similar stories from lung cancer survivors. It is the same among NPC survivors. Many NPC survivors, like myself, are non-smokers and yet we end up with cancer. How do you explain this irony of life & the mystery of cancer?

Then yesterday (7 Jul 2011), I happened to watch "The Edge of Life" on Channel News Asia. This documentary features real-life stories of cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment at Parkway Cancer Centre. One comment made by Dr Ang Peng Tiam, the leading oncologist in this documentary, caught my attention.

Dr Ang said, "The seed and the soil theory says that the person, who is genetically predisposed, when exposed to even the least amount of carcinogen, he or she may develop cancer. But in contrast, some people whose genetic make-up is such that they are not prone to cancer, they can have all the spices and eat all the fatty food and all the barbeque they want, they can smoke, they can drink and yet don't get cancer."
("The Edge of Life", CNA, 7 July 2011)

Thank you, Dr Ang. But then, I wonder how can we know which group of genetic make-up we belong to?

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dear readers, you can watch "The Edge of Life" telecast on the following link :

http://www.parkwaycancercentre.com/videos/edge-of-life/series/colorectal-cancer-and-lymphoma