I used to drink/smoked alot when I was younger but pretty much stopped when my daughter was born in '95. Eight years later I was diagnosed.
My personal opinion was/is.
I beleive that you are pre-disposed to this.
Certainly there are 75 yo men and women sitting in a tavern right now chain smoking and drinking scotch. And they have been doing that for 40+ years. Why not them?
Well, I beleive it's in the gene pool. My mom, uncle, grandmother, and great grandmother (same side) all had cancer at some point in their lives. Uncle died from it.
I would love to see a real study based on people that never smoked or drank and their family history of cancer. I think that would be interesting.
Gotta run -r
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04. 41 Years Old At Diagnosis