Noncancer deaths in cancer and noncancer lineages.

Starting with white probands who were potential milk donors in a program of human milk collection, a series of 2411 family health histories were obtained of the first degree relatives of the probands' parents. A lineage is defined as the parents and siblings of a parent of the proband as well as the parent. 2090 cancers were identified in the 31,939 people. Of the 21,712 persons without cancer in the parents' generation, age-specific death rates were significantly higher in those lineages with at least one cancer. This was true in infants, children and adults for both males and females (p less than 0.001). Cancer may be linked to other morbid conditions by a commonality of heredity, family environment, or perhaps both as necessary antecedents--neither sufficient by itself.