causes or increases the risk for Brain Cancer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 12, 2005 -- What causes or increases the risk for Brain Cancer?

Like any cancer, the exact reason why one person gets brain cancer and another doesn't is unknown. However, several things have been found to increase the risk of developing brain cancer:

1) Having rare family diseases, carried in the genes, such as Neurofibromatosis (the "Elephant Man" syndrome), Von-Hippel Lindau, Sturge-Weber's or Turcot's syndrome. These all belong to a family of diseases called the "phacomacoses" and present with cysts or bumps on or inside the body and high risk for brain tumors.

2) Exposure to certain chemicals, including chlorinated hydrocarbons (like PVC) and benzene, is associated with a higher risk of brain cancers.

3) Exposure to radiation has also been connected to developing brain cancers as well as other malignancies. The risk is greater if the person is exposed to at a young age to a higher dose. Pre-existing benign type tumors may become cancerous (called "malignant degeneration) if radiated.