Causes of Brain Cancer: An Introduction
No one knows the exact causes of
brain cancer, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get brain cancer and another person will not. However,
brain cancer research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop brain cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease.
Causes of Brain Cancer: Know the Risk Factors
While risk factors are not causes of brain cancer, studies have found a number of factors that may increase a person's risk of developing it. Specific risk factors for developing a primary brain tumor include:
- Being male
- Race
- Age
- Family history
- Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals.
Being Male
In general, brain tumors are more common in males than in females. However, meningiomas are more common in females.
Race
Brain tumors occur more often in Caucasians than in people of other races.
Age
Most brain tumors are detected in people who are 70 years of age or older. However, brain tumors are the second most common cancer in children. (
Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer.) Brain tumors are most common in children younger than 8 years of age.
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