March 12th, 2012 10:32 AM ET They don't call it "The Big C" for
nothing. People don't even like to say the word out loud. The
good news, we're told, is that there are many things we can do –
or not do – in our adult lives to lower our risk of developing
different types of cancer. Want to avoid lung cancer? Don't
smoke. Want to lower your risk of skin cancer? Stay out of the
sun, or utilize a proper sunscreen. But a new study published
Monday in Cancer suggests that at least one decision our parents
make FOR us may have an impact on our predisposition to certain
types of cancer. Researchers at the University of Washington
School of Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center looked at the association between circumcision and the
prevalence of prostate cancer. They concluded that circumcision
before first sexual intercourse is associated with a 15%
reduction in the relative risk of developing prostate cancer.
It's important to note, right off the bat, that this study is
not purporting to establish a