Oncology (Cancer)/Hematology
Prevention and risk factors
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's
chance of developing a disease such as cancer. Different cancers
have different risk factors. For example, smoking is a risk
factor for cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, larynx, bladder,
and several other organs. It is important to remember, however,
that these factors increase a person's risk but do not always
"cause" the disease. Many people with one or more risk factors
never develop cancer, while others with this disease have
no known risk factors. It is important, however, to know about
risk factors so that appropriate action can be taken, such
as changing a health behavior or being monitored closely for
a potential cancer.
All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could
be prevented completely. The ACS estimates that in 1998 about
175,000 cancer deaths are expected to be caused by tobacco use and
an additional 19,000 cancer deaths are related to excessive alcohol use, frequently in combination with tobacco use.
Many cancers that are related to dietary factors could also be prevented. Scientific evidence suggests that up to one-third of the 564,800 cancer deaths expected to occur in the US this year are related to nutrition.
In addition, many of the one million skin cancers that are
expected to be diagnosed in 1998 could have been prevented by protection from the sun's rays.
What is Cancer? | Prevention and Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms | Treatment