Dr. Harness I don't have a family history of breast cancer, why did I get it?

Watch Dr. Harness, Pres. American Society of Breast Surgeons. St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center in Orange, CA.

Dr. Jay Harness: If I could answer the question, “Why you have cancer?” I would invite you to join me to accept my Nobel Prize. I wish I could. Someday we will know the answer of that question.

Typically, in most cancers there is not a family history. In fact, the incidence of positive family history depending on whose series you review once in the neighborhood of 7 percent sometimes may be up to 9 percent or 10 percent. So, it is actually more common not to have a family history, particularly, breast cancer.