Risk Factors of Cancer
Author: John Published Under: Health
There are many unknowns when it comes to cancer and why some people are affected by it, while others are not. However, research has identified a number of risk factors that are more common in those with cancer, concluding that these increase the risk of developing cancerous tumors.
- Aging: One of the biggest risk factors of cancer is aging and growing older. Cancer can affect people of any age, even juveniles, but it is most common among those over the age of 65.
- Tobacco and Cigarettes: Using and smoking tobacco is another major risk factor of developing cancer. In the case of smokers, lung cancer, larynx cancer, bladder cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer, and several other kinds of cancer are much more common. Myeloid leukemia, which is a type of cancer that begins in the blood stream, is also more common. Those who chew tobacco, including using snuff, are more likely to develop mouth cancer.
- Exposure to Sunlight: Ultraviolet radiation (UV Rays) is a type of radiation that is produced by the sun, as well as tanning booths and sun lamps. UV Rays causes the skin to age faster, damaging the skin and increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Ionizing Radiation: Ionizing radiation is a type of radiation that is created as rays enter the atmosphere of the earth. These rays come from outer space, as a result of radon gas, nuclear fallout from destroyed stars, and many other places. This type of radiation, which is also used in many kinds of medical situations, can also damage the body, increasing the risk of cancer.
- Chemical Exposure: There are many chemicals, such as certain paints and industrial chemicals, that increase the risk of developing cancer. This includes asbestos, which was used extensively in building until the 1980s, as when as benzidine, nickel, and cadmium.
Viruses, Infection, and Bacteria
Viruses, Infection, and Bacteria are also a common cause of cancer. There are actually many viruses that have been shown to increase the risk of cancer, some of which are described below:
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: Both of these disease can cause liver cancer, but this usually only occurs after many years of having the disease.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV): HIV, which is responsible for causing AIDS, greatly increases the risk of developing lymphoma, as well as kaposia sarcoma. Although, kaposia sarcoma is much less common.
- Epstein-Barr Virus(EBV) EBV has been shown to increase the risk of developing lymphoma.
- Human T-Cell Leukemia/lymphoma Virus(HTLV-1): Increase the risk of both lymphoma and leukemia.
- Human Papillomaviruses(HPVs): HPV has been linked to cervical cancer, although it could also increase the risk for other types of cancer as well.
- Huma Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8): HHV has been shown to increase the risk of developing Kaposi Sarcoma.
- Helicobacter Pylori: This is a type of bacterium that can cause stomach ulcers, which has also been shown to increase the risk of developing stomach cancer and lymphoma of the stomach lining.
Avoiding the Risks of Cancer
There are many cases, such as using tobacco or suntanning booths, where the exposure to the cancer risk factor can be largely avoided. However, many cancer risk factors are genetic and are related to family history, so can not be avoided. It is essential that exposure to things like asbestos or tobacco be avoided whenever possible, which can greatly reduce the chance of developing cancer.