Risk and protective factors

While different types of cancer have unique risk factors, there are several risk and protective factors that are common to most cancers [1]. These factors can be genetic, lifestyle and environmental. Factors relating to behaviour and lifestyle can be adjusted to reduce the risk of getting cancer.

To help protect against getting cancer, people should be supported to:

• not smoke tobacco
• drink alcohol in moderation
• have a healthy diet that is high in fibre (including fruits, vegetables, legumes and cereals) and low in red and processed meats
• limit sun exposure
• be physically active
• maintain a healthy body weight [1][2][3].

Cancer can be associated with chronic infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [4] . Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is another viral risk factor for cancer [5], with some of the highest rates reported among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Central Australia [6]. There are also environmental risk factors for cancer, including exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as radiation, chemicals and pollution [7][8].

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the prevalence of risk factors can be driven by social determinants, including racism and discrimination [9][10], while cultural factors such as connection to Country, knowledge and beliefs, language, self-determination, family and kinship and cultural expression can be protective factors for health [11].

Importantly, being exposed to a risk factor does not mean that a person will definitely develop cancer; some people exposed to one or more risk factors may never develop a cancer, and other people who do develop cancer have no apparent risk factors [1].