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Posted by admin in Although carcinoid tumors can occur at any age, they’re more common in older people. Children rarely develop these types of tumors. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease, including cancer. There are risk factors that can be controlled, such as smoking, and risk factors that cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence disease, they do not cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop the disease, while others with no known risk factors do. Knowing your risk factors and communicating with your doctor can help guide you in making wise lifestyle and health-care choices.
The cause of carcinoid tumors is unknown, and no avoidable risk factors have been identified. Lung carcinoid tumors are not caused by, nor related to, smoking.
The following factors can raise a person’s risk of developing carcinoid tumors:
Family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1. Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1 (MEN1) is a hereditary condition that increases the risk of developing tumors in three different glands: pituitary, parathyroid, and pancreas. It is estimated that approximately 10% of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors are associated with MEN1.
Race and gender: Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors are more common among blacks than whites, and black men are at a higher risk than black women. Among whites, men and women have the same risk. Race and gender are not a significant risk factor in lung carcinoid tumors, but women tend to live longer after treatment.
Age: For gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, the average age at diagnosis is 55 to 65. For carcinoid tumors of the appendix, the average age at diagnosis is about 40. For lung carcinoid tumors, the average age at diagnosis is between 45 and 55. Children rarely develop carcinoid tumors.
Other stomach conditions: People with diseases that damage the stomach and reduce acid production (in particular, pernicious anemia, a type of anemia characterized by very large, malformed red blood cells) have a greater risk of developing stomach carcinoid tumors.
