There's no excuse for the ignorance, of course, but I think that cancer is so scary and unpredictable to many of us, that it might give someone a (false) sense of control if they think that you or someone else might have "caused" their cancer because of lifestyle issues. That means that if *they* don't do those things, they'll never get cancer! It's deluded and misguided, but understandable when you look at it this way. Patient explanations might help, but maybe not if the person's underlying emotion is fear. After Gordon's cancer and treatment, I worry more about him and myself, and actually catch myself thinking "now, if I don't do this or just do that, I won't get cancer". Luckily I know how wrongheaded this is, and would never say it to anyone else. Anne