Cancer Education / Cancer Causes

Mouth & Throat Cancer

Smoking
Alcohol
Lump in the Breast
Betel quid with slaked lime
Arecanut
First degree relative of cancer patient (3.5-3.8 fold increased risk)
Human Papilloma virus infection – Oropharyngeal cancer
Epstein Barr virus infection- Nasopharyngeal cancer
Leukoplakia
Erythroplakia
Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis
Oral subucosal fibrosis
Syphilitic glossitis
Lynch II, Bloom, xeroderma pigmentosum, ataxia telangiectasia, Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Lung Cancer 

Smoking
Genetic predisposition
First degree relative of cancer patient (2-3 fold increased risk)
Occupational / environmental exposure
Asbestos
Silica
Nickel, cobalt, chromium, cadmium
Arsenic
Arsenic
Ionizing radiation- radon, uranium miners, x-rays, gamma rays
Radiation exposure to chest for other cancer & exposure to alkylating agent

Esophageal Cancer

Tobacco
Alcohol 
  Deficiency of vitamin A,C and E, selenium, carotenoids and fiber
  Consumption of hot beverages
Occupational and industrial hazards – dry cleaners, metal polishers, chimney sweeps, printers, gas station attendants, asphalt and metal workers, silica & metal dust,asbestos, viral exposure via meat packing and slaughtering.
Obesity
Gastroesophageal reflux disease : 2-16 fold increased risk 
 Helicobacter pylori infection
 Barrett’s esophagus
Tylosis
Plummer- Vinson syndrome
Caustic injury 
Achalasia
 Human papilloma virus infection
Prior aero-digestive tract malignancy – 4% per year

Stomach cancer 

  Acquired factors

1. Nutritional – High salt
Type A blood group
Pernicious anemia  
First degree relative of gastric cancer
Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (CDH1 mutation) 
Familial gastric cancer
HNPCC
FAP 
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
BRCA1 & BRCA 2 
Prior gastric surgery for benign gastric ulcer
Prior MALT lymphoma  

  Genetic factors

 
Type A blood group
Pernicious anemia
First degree relative of gastric cancer patient
Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (CDH1 mutation)  
  Familial gastric cancer
HNPCC 
FAP
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
BRCA1 & BRCA 2 

Cholangiocarcinoma 

Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Choledocholithiasis 
 Liver fluke infection – Opisthorchis viverrini & Clonorchis sinensis
Caroli’s disease
Hepatitis B&C
HIV
Cirrhosis
 Biliary- enteric anastomosis
Thorotrast
Dioxin
Nitrosamines
Asbestos
Smoking
Obesity

Lung Cancer 

Smoking
Genetic predisposition 
First degree relative of cancer patient (2-3 fold increased risk)
Occupational / environmental exposure
Asbestos
Silica
Nickel, cobalt, chromium, cadmium
 Ionizing radiation- radon, uranium miners, x-rays, gamma rays
Air pollution
Radiation exposure to chest for other cancer & exposure to alkylating agent

Liver Cancer  

  Cirrhosis

Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis C virus 
Alcohol  
Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis
Cryptogenic cirrhosis 
Cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic liver disease
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Hereditary hemochromatosis
α-antitrypsin deficiency
Wilson disease

 Metabolic diseases (without cirrhosis)

Hereditary tyrosinemia
Ataxia telangiectasia 
Types  1&3 glycogen storage disease  
Galactosemia
Citrullinemia 
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Orotic aciduria
Alagille syndrome

 Environmental

 Thorotrast
Androgenic steroids
Cigarette smoking
Aflatoxin (present in stored grains of hot and humid parts)

Colorectal cancer

First degree relative (double the risk)
High red meat consumption
Overcooked red meat
High saturated fat
Excess alcohol consumption
Cigarette smoking
Sedentary lifestyle
Obesity
Familial causes – Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
HNPCC
Muir-Torr syndrome
T urcot syndrome
Peutz-Jegher syndrome
Juvenile polyposis
Cowden
Bannayan-Ruvalcaba-Riley
Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
Radiation colitis
Uretero-sigmoidostomy
Acromegaly 

Anal Canal Cancer 

HPV infection
HIV infection
Immunosuppression 
Cigarette smoking – 5 fold increased risk

Kidney Cancer 

Smoking
Pain killer abuse
Environental  and occupational factors
Industrial solvent – trichloroethylene
Leather tanners, shoe workers, workers exposed to asbestos
Workers exposed to gasoline
End stage renal disease on dialysis who develop cystic disease of kidney
Family history
Hereditary

Cancer of the Penis 

Phimosis and poor local hygiene
HPV infection
Tobacco