What're the risk factors for brain cancer?
Age - Although brain cancers can occur at any age, they are more common in children under 12 and in adults over 40. Tumors in the central nervous system are now the most common cancers in children, but they are still rare. About 1,500
children are diagnosed with brain tumors each year, although half are benign. Brain tumors in children are more likely to occur in the cerebellum, the midbrain, or the optic nerve.
Genetic factors - Genetic mutations and deletions of tumor suppressor genes (i.e., genes that suppress the development of malignant cells) increase the risk for some types of brain cancer. It is very rare for brain cancers to run in families. When they do, it is usually because of a rare inherited disorder caused by a gene mutation, such as Von-Hippel Lindau disease.
Immune system disorders - There is an increased risk of developing brain cancer if the immune system is impaired. Some people are born with an impaired immune system. It can also be a side effect of certain cancer treatments or organ transplantation. People with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are also at increased risk.
Environmental factors - Some types of brain tumors appear to occur more frequently in people who are exposed to radiation or certain chemicals, such as those who work in oil refining, rubber manufacturing, and chemical and nuclear industries. But a definite link between exposure to chemicals and brain tumors hasn't been proved. Similarly, electromagnetic fields and the use of cell phones have been studied as causes of primary brain tumors, but no definitive medical evidence indicates that either causes brain tumors. |
