• Question: hi,i would like to know how a brain tumors develop and can your life style make a impact on if you develop one or not.

    Asked by eleanor2010 to Mark, Jo, timcraggs on 25 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Joanna Buckley

      Joanna Buckley answered on 25 Jun 2010:

      Hiya eleanor2010 🙂

      No one knows the exact causes of brain tumours. Yes, your lifestyle to a certain extent can impact on this. Here are some facts…

      – Men are slightly more likely to develop them than women
      – Race plays an important role. They are found more commonly in white people.
      – If you have a family history, you have a slightly increased risk
      – They usually affect older people
      – If you’re exposed to things like excess radiation or use certain chemicals then you’ll be at more risk.

      Hope that answers your q 🙂

    • Photo: Tim Craggs

      Tim Craggs answered on 25 Jun 2010:

      Hi Eleanor,

      Good question. I found some answers on the MacMillan website, they are a big charity that deal with cancer and cancer suffers, their site is

      http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Brain/Aboutbraintumours/Causes.aspx

      Although brain tumours can develop at any age, as with a lot of cancers, people are more likely to get them as they get older. Some types of brain tumour, however, are more common in younger adults.

      Genetic conditions

      Brain tumours are not caused by an inherited faulty gene that can be passed on to other family members.

      People who have been exposed to radiation to their head, such as children who had radiotherapy| for leukaemia, are at slightly higher risk of developing a brain tumour than other people.

      Other factors, such as mobile phones, power lines and certain viruses, have been suggested as possible causes of brain tumours. A lot of research has been done looking into these possible causes, especially mobile phones, but so far there is no evidence that they cause brain tumours.

      Brain tumours occur when the some of the brain cells are no longer in control of their division.

      The best advice is always to live a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet with 5 fruit and veg a day, get a reasonable amount of exercise, don’t smoke, and don’t drink too much. This will give you the best chance of avoiding any nasty diseases, though of course we all die some day of something!

Comments