Where You Live May Increase Your Odds of Certain Cancers
Your chances of developing certain types of cancer may depend on how affluent your neighborhood is, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Cancer. Scientists found that specific cancers are more prevalent among the poor and others among the wealthy.
Researchers used U.S. census information to analyze the poverty rate of each neighborhood (defined as a living space containing 4,000 people) in 16 states and Los Angeles County, which collectively accounted for 42 percent of the U.S. population. Income status was based on the percentage of households in each area that lived below the poverty level.
In wealthy areas of the country, more common cancers include testicular, thyroid, melanoma, breast, and cervical. In poorer areas, cancers stemming from certain risky behaviors are more prevalent. Those include cancers of the penis and cervix, which are linked to sexually transmitted diseases; cancer of the larynx, which can be caused by smoking, drinking, or HPV; liver cancer, often linked to drinking and hepatitis (which can be contracted by needle sharing); and Kaposi's sarcoma, a skin cancer that often occurs in people with AIDS.
Interestingly, the frequency of cancer is lower in poorer areas, but deaths from these cancers are higher. “One possible reason is that wealthier people have more access to health insurance and cancer screening technology such as mammograms and pap smears, so they’re likelier to detect the disease before it spreads,” lead study author Francis P. Boscoe, PhD, a research scientist at the New York State Department of Health, tells Yahoo Shine. The results also explain why poor people are often diagnosed when their cancer is in advanced stages.
There are also certain risk factors associated with socioeconomic status, adds Boscoe. For example, wealthy, educated people tend to have fewer children or bear them later in life. And women who give birth after the age of 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer due to hormonal changes that occur with age. Wealthier people are also less likely to engage in risky behavior such as smoking thanks to access to better healthcare education.
Of course, no matter where you live, taking precautions to stave off cancer is crucial. This includes exercising daily (According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week), maintaining a well-balanced diet (a variety of antioxidant-rich produce, lean proteins, and whole grain carbohydrates), and avoiding smoking and excessive drinking.
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