Cancer did not run in our family but Mom got breast cancer in '85....and 10 years later her sister did, also. Odd thing though, they both had a small lump in their left arm pit...( free floating cancer cells) had their left breast removed, and no cancer was to be found in the removed breast.

There is a blood test you can ask for Marcia next time you go to your Gyn....to see if you are predisposed to breast cancer.

Odds are, though, given your Mothers' age, that her body is starting to shut down...and you will not have inherited the trait...it is simply her age.

Your mother has definitely defied the odds by living to a very ripe old age...hopefully you have inherited that!

Footnote: I have a couple of friends who have Crohns' Disease...and they have isolated 7-8 genes responsible for the disease. The kicker is, as ER has stated is, what are the determining factors that can switch these certain genes "on"....and start the clock ticking...THAT is the million dollar question.

I know they are doing genetic research with Indian corn (the multi-colored corn we hang on our doors at Thanksgiving) and they have found that the thinning ozone layer is allowing more damaging UV rays in and that is genetically altering the corn....so that is enviornment.