The age of a group of individuals will affect the rate of cancer development. Individuals over the age of 45 have a much greater risk of developing cancer than people younger than 45 years of age. Men and women over the age of 60 have an even greater risk of developing some form of cancer. It would stand to reason that these age groups would have more cases of cancer than other groups in younger age brackets.
Other factors that may affect the rates of cancer development in a particular group are lifestyle behaviors. Individuals with a poor diet may experience a higher cancer rate than those who eat healthfully. A diet rich in vegetables, fruit, lean meats and fish and healthy fats can help prevent cancer in some individuals.
Exercise is also an important part of keeping cancer at bay. Individuals who do not participate in any regular form of exercise are at a greater risk for developing cancer. According to the American Cancer Society one third of all cancer deaths are in some way related to nutrition, obesity, and/or physical inactivity, and could possibly be prevented.
In one study conducted by Dr. Christine Friedenreich, of Alberta Health Services-Alberta Cancer Board in Calgary, Canada, it was discovered that women with breast cancer who had exercised more than four hours per week over their lifetime had a 44 percent lower risk of dying from the disease. Other studies have found similar results with other forms of the disease.
“Greater participation in physical activity has consistently been associated with reduced risk of cancer incidence at several sites, including breast and colon cancers,” said James McClain, Ph.D., cancer prevention fellow at the National Cancer Institute.
Another enormously risky lifestyle behavior is tobacco usage. It is estimated that discontinuing the use of tobacco could prevent one third of all cancers.
These lifestyle factors may cause the incidence of cancer to increase in certain groups such as families or employees that participate in these high-risk behaviors. Cancer clusters may seem to exist however it is lifestyle behaviors, not external environmental carcinogens that cause the unusually high incidence of cancer in these groups.