251. Age and smoking are the most important risk factors for all cancers
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Older age and smoking are the biggest risk factors for developing any type of cancer over the next five years, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer. Researchers from the American Cancer Society collected data on almost 430,000 adults who were cancer-free and followed them for five years. Just over 15,000 of them developed cancer during that time. Current smoking turned out to be the biggest risk factor for developing cancer. Specifically for men, other cancer risk factors included alcohol intake, red meat consumption, physical inactivity, and family history of cancer. For women, body mass index, type 2 diabetes, hysterectomy, tubal ligation, and high blood pressure increased the risk of cancer.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
