Can you get cancer even with no known risk factors?

Yes. Cancer can develop in some people who do not have any known risk factors. It is usually not possible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another does not.

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing cancer. But risk factors change the odds; they do not decide what will happen to any one person. Having one or more risk factors does not mean a person will get cancer, and cancer can happen even when no known risk factor is present.

Some risk factors, such as certain exposures and behaviors, can be avoided, while others, such as age and family history, cannot. Limiting your exposure to avoidable risk factors may lower your risk of certain cancers. Your healthcare team can help you understand your own situation.