Cancer Risk Factors
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 2.4.14
Cancer Risk Factors
Lifestyle and genetic risk factors have been identified for various cancers:
Lifestyle
- Three factors have been identified to increase the risk of some cancers:
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- UV exposure (e.g. through lots of sunbathing).
Genetic
- For some cancers, an increased risk of cancer can be inherited from your parents.
- E.g. some genes (that can be inherited) have been shown to cause increased susceptibility to some types of breast cancer.
Test yourself on Cancer Risk Factors
Why might spending a lot of time sunbathing without protection increase a person's risk of cancer?
What can be concluded about a person's cancer risk if one of their parents carries a gene linked to breast cancer?
Why is smoking classed as a lifestyle risk factor for cancer rather than a genetic risk factor?