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Cancer Risk - Cancer Currents Blog

News about research on factors that affect cancer risk, including inherited genetic mutations, smoking/tobacco use, obesity, and infectious agents like HPV.

  • Four yellow pill-shaped icons with purple stripes in a row. The first is labeled "reference chromosome." The second is missing one purple stripe and labeled "deletion." The third has an extra purple stripe and is labeled "duplication." The fourth has a pink stripe and is labeled "insertion."
    • By Nadia Jaber

    Certain inherited genetic changes are likely involved in the development of some cancers in children, a new study shows. The changes, called structural variants, were linked with a small percentage of children with neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma.

  • A conceptual illustration of a T cell attacking a cancer cell
    • By Carmen Phillips

    In late 2023, FDA announced it was investigating instances of second cancers following treatment with CAR T-cell therapies. In this Q&A, NCI’s Dr. Stephanie Goff explains what’s known about the issue, stressing that second cancers “of any kind are rare.”

  • A conceptual image of a "risk dial" with the dial pointing toward the "harmful" side.
    • By Carmen Phillips

    For women with inherited changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, regular MRI scans and undergoing a surgery called a salpingo-oophorectomy appear to lower their chances of dying from breast and ovarian cancer, according to results from two studies.

  • Two medical illustrations of gastrointestinal anatomy. One illustration shows normal GI anatomy with dotted lines where incisions are made during total gastrectomy surgery, and the other shows GI anatomy after a total gastrectomy.
    • By Shana Spindler

    In a recent study, more than 90% of people who’d had their stomach surgically removed to prevent cancer experienced a least one chronic complication 2 years out from their surgery. For some, the complications are life altering.

  • A three-part image. Part A shows a family pedigree. Parts B and C are pathology images of gastric cancer.
    • By Daryl McGrath

    Despite recommendations, a new analysis shows few people with cancer undergo germline testing to learn if their cancer may have been caused by gene changes inherited from a parent. Germline testing can help doctors determine the best treatments for a patient and help identify people whose family members may be at higher risk of cancer.

  • Text graphic states signs common in people who develop early-onset colorectal cancer. The graphic also includes graphics for diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and iron-deficiency anemia.
    • By Linda Wang

    Researchers have identified four warning signs that they believe may help identify colorectal cancer early in younger adults. The signs or symptoms are abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and iron deficiency anemia.

  • A NASA satellite image of a Hurricane Irma
    • By Edward Winstead

    The consequences of climate change have already affected cancer care in the United States, particularly in areas hit by hurricanes and wildfires. Researchers are studying how to mitigate that impact and better understand the effect of climate change on the risk of developing cancer.

  • Cancers Associated with Drinking Alcohol Infographic
    • By Anna Hopkins

    A study confirmed that most US adults aren’t aware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. Even among those surveyed who were aware, some believed risk varies by the type of alcohol.

  • An anatomic illustration of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
    • By Sharon Reynolds

    A new study suggests that people with obesity who had bariatric surgery had a much lower risk of five common cancers that aren’t related to hormone levels, including lung, colorectal, and esophageal cancer.

  • A medical professional performs an ultrasound on a patient's neck to examine the thyroid gland.
    • By Sharon Reynolds

    Women are far more likely than men to be diagnosed with small thyroid cancers that probably would have never caused problems during their lifetime, a new study finds. The results may help explain why thyroid cancer seems to be more common in women.

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