Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors can be changed, while others cannot. If you have a risk factor for cancer, you’re more likely to develop the disease at some point in your life. Having one or more risk factors, however, doesn’t mean you will get cancer.

The four general types of risk factors are behavioral, environmental, biological and genetic. It is estimated that behavioral and environmental risk factors cause up to 85 percent of all cancers in the United States.

Behavioral Risks

These are behaviors that you can change, such as smoking, diet, exercise and alcohol consumption. You can sometimes reduce your cancer risk by changing your behaviors (e.g., quit smoking, increase your physical activity).

Environmental Risks

The environment in which you live and work can affect your cancer risk. Examples include asbestos, radon, secondhand smoke, UV radiation, pollution and pesticides. You can take action to decrease your exposure to environmental risks, such as checking your home for radon. Scientists believe that protective factors, such as eating fruits and vegetables, may decrease the risk of developing cancer after exposure to environmental risks. Learn more about environmental risks.

Biological Risks

These are physical characteristics, such as your gender, race and age. Whether your physical and biological characteristics are risk factors for cancer depends on the type of cancer. Examples of characteristics that can increase your chances of getting a specific type of cancer are

• Gender – Some cancers are gender-related. Only men have a prostate gland, so only men can get prostate cancer. Women are at risk for ovarian and cervical cancer. Women and men can get breast cancer, though women are at much higher risk than men.
• Age – Most cancers develop as people age. Those over age 50 are at greater risk.
• Race – Some races have a higher chance of getting certain types of cancer. African-American men appear to have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men of other races.
• Skin Complexion – Fair-skinned people have a greater chance of getting skin cancer than those with dark skin.

Genetic Risks

These factors relate to genes inherited from your parents. Hereditary factors that increase cancer risk are more likely to be found in families that have

• Family members diagnosed with cancer at a younger age than usual for that cancer
• Three or more generations diagnosed with similar cancers
• Three or more cancers on the same side of the family
• Family members diagnosed with two or more different kinds of cancer, such as a woman who has had both breast and ovarian cancer

When different family members are diagnosed with the same cancer, it is not always due to an inherited problem. If you believe your family may have a hereditary cancer problem, you can look into genetic testing for specific cancers.

Genetic testing is usually done on a small sample of blood. Many, but not all, genetic mutations that increase cancer risk can now be detected. If doctors find a genetic marker for a specific cancer, the chance of cancer is increased.

You can learn more about genetic cancer testing at Beaumont Hospitals.

Common Cancer Risk Factors

The most common cancer risk factors are

• Poor diet, lack of physical activity or being overweight
• Tobacco
• Sunlight
• Ionizing radiation
• Alcohol
• Growing older
• Certain chemicals
• Some viruses and bacteria
• Certain hormones
• Family history
   
  Many people don’t know that cancer is preventable in many cases. Learning the causes and risk factors is the first step to take. Avoiding the primary cancer risks can reduce your chance of developing the disease.

To learn more about cancer and what you can do to minimize your cancer risks, visit the links below.

• Cancer Causes
• Preventing or Minimizing Cancer Risks
• Hereditary Cancers and Genetics