Risk Factors For Cancer
Many environmental and genetic factors can increase the risk of cancer development. However, not all individuals who have the risk factors or are exposed to carcinogens develop cancer. It is unclear why a person may develop cancer while others may not. Moreover, people are usually advised to visit treatment centers like the cancer center Orange County if they develop any signs. The following are some of the common risk factors for cancer.
Immunosuppression
Many individuals who undergo organ transplants usually need prescriptions to suppress their immune systems. This enables their bodies to accept the organ. Unfortunately, these medications may impair the ability of the immune system to fight off infections that lead to cancer or even identify and destroy cancer cells. HIV infections can also weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of specific cancers.
Alcohol
Regardless of your reason for drinking alcohol, it can cause serious health issues. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing throat, mouth, esophagus, liver, larynx, and breast cancer. The more you consume alcohol, the higher you increase your risk. Besides, the risk of developing cancer is more when someone combines using tobacco and drinking alcohol. If you cannot stop drinking, you should do it moderately.
Age
Certain cancers, like retinoblastoma, Wilms tumor, and neuroblastoma, develop excessively in kids. A suppressor gene mutation causes these cancers during fetal development. Besides, they can also be inherited. However, other cancers are more common among adults, specifically older adults. The increased cancer rate among older adults is usually due to the weakening of the immune system and continued exposure to carcinogens.
Family History
Some families are usually prone to developing particular cancers due to the interaction of several or single genes together. Moreover, environmental factors common to the family can also alter this interaction of someone’s genes and cause cancer.
Although some of these risk factors may be out of control, avoiding some habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking can help reduce cancer risk. You can achieve this by choosing to live a healthy life.
