Subject matter of the present invention is a method for predicting the risk of getting cancer in a subject that does not suffer from cancer or alternatively diagnosing cancer in a subject comprising: determining the level of Pro-Tachykinin, its splice variants or fragments thereof including Substance P and Neurokinin of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject; and correlating said level of Pro-Tachykinin, its splice variants or fragments thereof with a risk for getting cancer, wherein a reduced level is predictive for an enhanced risk of getting cancer or alternatively diagnosing cancer wherein an reduced level is correlated with the diagnosis of cancer.