About risk factors
A risk factor is anything that's related to a person's chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, while others can't. Risk factors include:
- Hereditary conditions
- Medical conditions or treatments
- Infections
- Lifestyle factors, or
- Environmental exposures
The risk factor summaries on this page are designed to serve as general fact sheets. Knowing the risk factors that apply to specific cancers and discussing them with your health care provider can help in making more informed lifestyle and health care decisions.