What increases my risk for brain cancer?
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If you have certain cancers in other parts of the body - especially melanoma (skin cancer) orlung, colon, or breast cancer - the cancer can spread to the brain.
Cancer can alreadystart in the brain, although usually doctors can't pinpoint the cause.However, some things mayraise your risk of certain types of brain tumors:
- Previous radiation therapy of thehead, usually for childhood leukemia
- Exposure to thechemicalvinylchloride
- Certain genetic disorders, including Von Hippel-Lindau disease,tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, and Li-Fraumeni, Klinefelter, Cowden, Turcot, Gorlin, andnevoid basal cell carcinoma syndromes
- Organ transplant
- AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
- Epstein-Barr virus infection
If you have certain cancers in other parts of the body - especially melanoma (skin cancer) orlung, colon, or breast cancer - the cancer can spread to the brain. Cancer can alreadystart in the brain, although usually doctors can't pinpoint the... More -
History of cancer: Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.
Heredity: Although not directly linked, in rare cases brain tumors strike several members of a family, suggesting heredity may be a risk factor.
Environmental: Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, such as those found in oil refining, rubber manufacturing and chemical and nuclear industries may increase cancer. Vinyl chloride is an environmental risk factor for brain cancer. It is a carcinogen (cancer causing substance) found in the environment as the by-product of manufacturing plastic products, such as PVC pipes, wire coatings, furniture, car parts, and house wares. Vinyl chlorides are also present in tobacco smoke. Manufacturing and chemical plants may release vinyl chloride into the air or water, and it may leak into the environment as a result of improper disposal. People who work in these plants or live in close proximity to them have an increased risk for brain cancer.
Electromagnetic fields and the use of cell phones have been studied as causes of primary brain tumors, but no definitive evidence indicates that either causes brain tumors.
Age: Although brain tumors can occur at any age, they're most common in children 3 to 12 years old and also adults 40 to 70 years old.
Gender: Overall, males and Caucasians are more likely to develop a brain tumor.
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History of cancer: Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer. Heredity: Although not directly linked, in rare cases brain tumors strike several members of a family, suggesting... More
