DISEASES EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Risk factors
Certain risk factors may increase your chance of developing cancer. These risk factors can include:
tobacco use
high alcohol consumption
an unhealthy diet, characterized by red and processed meat, sugary drinks and salty snacks, starchy foods, and refined carbohydrates including sugars and processed grains, according to a 2017 review
a lack of physical activity
exposure to air pollution
exposure to radiation
unprotected exposure to UV light, such as sunlight
infection by certain viruses including H. pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis
The risk of developing cancer also increases with age. In general, the risk of developing cancer appears to increase until the age of 70 to 80Trusted Source and then diminish, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
A 2020 reviewTrusted Source suggests this may be the result of:
less effective cell repair mechanisms that come with aging
buildup of risk factors over the course of life
duration of exposures to carcinogens
Some existing health conditions that cause inflammation may also increase your risk of cancer. An example is ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Types of cancer
Cancers are named for the area in which they begin and the type of cell they are made of, even if they spread to other parts of the body. For example, a cancer that begins in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still called lung cancer.
There are also several clinical terms used for certain general types of cancer:
Carcinoma is a cancer that starts in the skin or the tissues that line other organs.
Sarcoma is a cancer of connective tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage, and blood vessels.
Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, which creates blood cells.
Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers of the immune system.
Learn more about specific types of cancer with the resources below.
- appendix cancer
- bladder cancer
- bone cancer
- brain cancer
- breast cancer
- cervical cancer
- colon or colorectal cancer
- duodenal cancer
- ear cancer
- endometrial cancer
- esophageal cancer
- heart cancer
- gallbladder cancer
- kidney or renal cancer
- laryngeal cancer
- leukemia
- lip cancer
- liver cancer
- lung cancer
- lymphoma
- mesothelioma
- myeloma
- oral cancers
- ovarian cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- penile cancer
- prostate cancer
- rectal cancer
- skin cancer
- small intestine cancer
- spleen cancer
- stomach or gastric cancer
- testicular cancer
- thyroid cancer
- uterine cancer
- vaginal cancer
- vulvar cancer