Known Cancer Risk Factors |
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| Cancer Site | Major Factors | Minor Factors |
| Lung | Tobacco | High doses of ionizing radiation Exposure to airborne asbestos (workplace) Radon Environmental tobacco smoke Occupational agents: mustard gas, chloromethyl ethers, chromium, nickel, inorganic arsenic |
| Colon and Rectum | Diet high in fat, low in fiber Genetic factors |
|
| Pancreas | Uncertain | Tobacco |
| Lymphoma | Genetic syndromes | HIV infection Exposure to pesticides and organic solvents |
| Leukemia | Uncertain | Occupational exposures in rubber,
petroleum, styrene, and butadiene production Tobacco Genetic factors Radioactive drugs Chemotherapy with alkylating agents Children with Down's Syndrome or other abnormal chromosomal conditions |
| Brain | Uncertain | Uncertain |
| Kidney and Renal Pelvis | Tobacco | Analgesic abuse Obesity |
| Esophagus | Tobacco Alcohol |
Diet low in fruits and vegetables |
| Bladder | Tobacco | Occupational exposure to aromatic
amines, dye, rubber, leather, paint, and aluminum Treatment with cyclophosphamide |
| Stomach | Diet high in salted or preserved
foods |
Tobacco |
| Multiple Myeloma | Uncertain | Uncertain |
| Prostate | Diet high in fat | Genetic factors - |
| Breast | Late age at first birth Childless Diet high in fat |
Genetic factors Alcohol Early menarche Late menopause |
| Ovary | Infertility Low parity |
Genetic factors |
| Cervix | Tobacco Early age at first intercourse Numerous lifetime sexual partners |
HPV* infection Herpes simplex virus type 2 |
| Oral | Tobacco Alcohol |
|
| Melanoma of Skin | History of sunburns Number of moles Family history Fair skin Previous melanoma |
|
| Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma | AIDS diagnosis Kidney transplant Grain handlers exposed to pesticides, grain dusts, and organic solvents |
|
*Human Papillomavirus |
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