Download Cancer Risk Factors

Risk factor definitions
02
RISK FACTOR
Intrinsic
risk factor
Extrinsic
risk factor
…is related to an
individual’s own actions
…is an integral part of
and environment
the individual and Something that increases
(tobacco, pollution,
the chances of getting
cannot be changed
diet, etc.)
a disease
(genetics, age, etc.)
Risk factors are multiple
and differ according to the cancer type
Smoking
tobacco
Radiation
Chemicals
RISK
FACTORS
Hereditary
Viruses
Age
HPV
EBV
HBV
General
health
Hormones
Diet
Obesity
Sun
exposure
Bacteria
H.pylori
Absolute risk vs. Relative risk
Absolute risk
Relative risk
The risk of an
individual
developing
cancer during
their entire
lifetime
The risk of a
group of people
developing
cancer in
comparison to
another group
Benefits of assessing risk
!
Allows the individual at risk to undertake prevention
strategies (e.g. stop smoking, avoid radiation)
!
Alerts physicians to those individuals at risk of
developing cancer
!
Enables screening procedures to detect cancer at
an early stage
!
Early detection enables physicians to initiate
treatment, whist the tumour is still in the initial stages