Brain tumors are one of the most troubling conditions a patient can have. It can feel like an invasion of one’s self when something takes up residence in your brain. Currently, no available methods of prevention can guarantee a person will avoid this condition. Nevertheless, knowing what puts you at risk of developing a brain tumor can give you some measure of control.
How Does a Brain Tumor Develop?
Tumors occur when the body’s cells replicate at an abnormal rate. This happens when the DNA in a cell becomes corrupted. What triggers this corruption is not always clear. However, the outcome always involves excess cells.
Beyond this, tumor cells do not serve their normal function. For example, brain tumor cells do not facilitate thought as healthy neurons do. In fact, cognitive issues tend to be a symptom of brain tumors.
What Puts You at Risk of Developing a Brain Tumor?
Ultimately, developing a brain tumor comes down to chance. Sometimes, patients with multiple risk factors remain tumor-free for a lifetime. In other cases, patients with minimal known risk factors may develop the condition. The best you can do is take steps to identify your risk factors and work with a doctor to plan for screenings accordingly. We lay out common risk factors for brain tumors below.
Another Type of Cancer
One of the most significant risks for a brain tumor is having another type of cancer. Many types of cancer do not remain local to the area of the body in which they originated. A cancer can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
This characteristic of cancer is why early detection and treatment are so crucial. Many cancers will spread if left untreated. However, some of the most common ones that spread to the brain include:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colon cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Melanoma
Radiation Exposure
Most people will not have any difficulty avoiding significant radiation exposure, but some professions are more at risk than others. Everyone experiences at least some radiation exposure—the sun itself emits solar radiation—but common, low-level exposures like this are not cause for concern.
Radiation becomes a significant risk factor when one is exposed to elevated doses. Increased exposure like this could be from roles such as radiology technician or nuclear medicine technologist. Radiation increases the risk of brain tumors because it can change or damage the DNA in your body’s cells. Sufficient changes may lead to cancerous replication in that cell.
To protect yourself as much as possible, stay away from irradiated areas and wear proper protection when exposed to known radiation.
Genetic Predisposition
Patients who have a family history of brain tumors will have an increased risk of developing them themselves. On the one hand, this risk factor is frustrating because it cannot be changed.
On the other hand, knowing your genetic predisposition can prove to be a helpful tool due to the importance of early detection. One of the reasons why some cancers go unnoticed is because they are asymptomatic until they become larger. Without screening or testing, they grow silently. Whether or not you have risk factors for developing tumors, you should consider regular screenings.
Knowing your risk factors can make the screenings more effective. You may need particular types or more frequent screenings based on the genetic factors at play.
Age
Increasing age correlates to an increased risk of brain tumors. Older patients will benefit from more frequent brain tumor screening than younger ones.
Despite the fact that brain tumors, on the whole, are more common in senior adults, certain brain tumors affect children more often than adults. In these cases, knowing your child’s risk factors can guide the screening process.
Smoking
Smoking itself does not directly increase your risk of developing a brain tumor. However, it does significantly increase your risk of other types of cancer. In particular, smoking dramatically increases your risk of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This type of cancer often only presents symptoms once it has progressed. By that stage, it may already have metastasized to the brain.
Fortunately, this is one risk factor you can control. It is never too early to quit smoking. Nearly every part of your body will thank you for the decision.
Find Treatment with the Best in the US
As a leading neurosurgeon, Dr. Yashar has provided numerous life-changing procedures for patients from across the nation.
