Risk Factors for Cancer

Risk Factors for Cancer

Usually it is not possible to know why a person develops cancer and the other does not. But research has shown that some risk factors can increase the likelihood of a person developing cancer. (There are also factors that are associated with low risk of cancer. These are sometimes called protective risk factors or just protective factors.)



The risk factors of cancer include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as certain behaviors. They also include things in which people can not control, such as age and family history, a family history of some cancers potential hereditary cancer Syndrome can be a sign. (For more information about hereditary genetic mutation, see the Genetic Cancer Syndrome section which can lead to cancer.)

Most cancer risk (and protective) factors are identified in early epidemiological studies. In these studies, scientists see large groups of people and compare those who do not develop cancer. These studies can show that people who develop cancer are likely to be more or less exposed to certain substances than those who do not behave in certain ways or develop cancer.

Such studies, on their own, can not prove that a behavior or substance causes cancer. For example, a search might be the result of the spot, or the true risk factor might be something other than a suspected risk factor, but such conclusions sometimes focus on the media, and this may lead to the wrong idea that cancer How it starts and spreads. (See the general cancer myths and misconception pages for more information.)

When many studies point to all points for a similar relationship between potential risk factors and the increased risk of cancer, and when a potential mechanism is present, it can explain how risk factors can actually cause cancer. The scientists can be more confident about the relationship between two people.

The list below includes the most known known or suspected risk factors for cancer. Although some of these risk factors can be avoided, other-like-growing aged-may not be such that restricting your risk for risk-free risk factors can reduce the risk of developing some cancers.