Brain tumors are a mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain, some of which are cancerous while others are not, the Mayo Clinic explains. The cause of cancerous tumors are not known, but what is clear are existing risk factors that may increase a person's chances of developing this disease.
Age
Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D. of eMedTV explains that most tumors occur in people age 70 or over; however, they are the second leading cause of cancer in children, especially those under the age of eight. The Mayo Clinic adds that medulloblastomas, a specific type of brain tumor, occur almost exclusively in children.
Radiation Exposure
Exposure to ionizing radiation results in a greater risk of developing brain cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sources of ionizing radiation include exposure from atomic bombs and radiation therapy used to treat cancer. More common forms exist as well, and include the radiation given off from power lines, microwave ovens and cell phones; however, as the Mayo Clinic notes, a proven link between these more common forms and brain cancer do not yet exist.
Race
The Mayo Clinic and Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D concur that brain cancer occurs more frequently in Caucasians than in other races. The one exception is meningioma, a type of tumor that begins in the brain and spinal cord. This type of brain cancer tends to affect African-Americans more frequently.
Family History
The American Cancer Society notes that most patients with brain cancer do not have a family history of the disease; however, in rare cases, patients with a history of certain family cancer syndromes have many tumors when they are younger. One such syndrome is von Hippel-Lindau disease. This condition tends to develop blood vessel tumors of the cerebellum, an area of the brain, or of the retina.
Cell Phone Use
Cell phones are a controversial risk factor, as no substantial evidence is available to support this theory. The American Cancer Society explains that cell phones emit radio frequency radiation, the type of radiation found in microwave ovens, satellite stations and radars. While cell phones do not emit ionizing radiation, the type of radiation responsible for damaging DNA and having the ability to cause cancer, the fact that the antenna is built into the phone, which is placed next to the head, may increase the risk of brain cancer.
