According to the National Cancer Institute, 19,000 people are diagnosed each year with brain cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer death in people under the age of 35. However, identifying the core causes of brain cancer has required in-depth research carried out over time. The results from these longitudinal studies show that genetic, environmental and behavioral factors all contribute to brain cancer.
Genetic Disorders
Though brain cancer does not necessarily run in families, there are certain genetic predispositions and disorders which can contribute to the incidence of brain cancer. These include a family history of cancer of any kind, especially brain tumors, being of Caucasian origin, having neurofibromatosis or having Li-Fraumeni syndrome. These genetic factors were indicated in the longitudinal study from the National Cancer Institute and in work by the Mayo Clinic.
Radiology in Childhood
According to the Mayo Clinic, exposure to radiation can cause brain cancer. This exposure can stem from treatment for another kind of cancer or as a result of exposure to nuclear radiation. Work by the National Cancer Institute shows that children who have received radiology are more likely than other populations to develop brain cancer, with greater likelihood the younger the child at the time of the treatment.
Poor Dietary Choices
Brain cancer has been linked to poor dietary choices. In particular, the National Cancer Institute cited the consumption of heavily processed meats and beverages as contributing to brain cancer. Products containing aspartame and other carcinogens are particularly linked to brain tumors.
Environmental Toxins
There are number of environmental toxins which can cause brain cancer. Some of these toxins are related to working environments, while others are personal behavioral choices. Vinyl chloride is an example of an environmental chemical which has been linked to brain cancer, according to Health Communities.net. This chemical is used in a number of manufacturing and packing processes for piping, furniture and housewares. It is also present in cigarette smoke for some brands, making it one of the behavioral choices leading to brain cancer.
Heavy Cell Phone Use
Another cause of brain cancer is heavy cell phone use, which is defined as more than 30 minutes per day. This has been linked to gliomas, the most common kind of brain cancer, in the top 10 percent of cell phone users in a longitudinal World Health Organization study publicized in 2010.
