The causes of are not fully known, which makes it difficult to prevent brain cancer, especially primary brain cancers, which start in the brain. On the other hand, secondary, or metastatic, brain cancer is an off-shoot of another cancer in the body. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent a brain tumor from forming, there are things that you can do to better your health and reduce your risk.
Risk Factors
There are multiple risk factors that can predispose you to brain cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Men have a higher risk than women of developing a brain tumor, but meningiomas are more common in women. Caucasians are more likely to have malignant brain tumors than people of other races. Brain cancers are most commonly found in two age groups: in people age 70 years and older and in children younger than eight years old. Having a family history of is also a risk factor.
In the same report by the Mayo Clinic, there have also been links to certain chemical exposures and brain cancer. Nuclear industry workers who have been exposed to radiation have a higher risk of developing brain tumors. Pathologists and embalmers who work with formaldehyde also are at risk for brain cancer, though the risk has not been linked to other people who work with formaldehyde. In addition, workers with plastics who are exposed to vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile have a larger chance of developing brain cancer.
Nutrition
Eliminating poor diet and eating brain-healthy food can lower your chances of developing brain cancer. Types of brain healthy foods include leafy green vegetables, fish with omega-3 fatty acids, calcium-rich foods, whole grains and soybeans. In addition, these foods are also good to eat even if you are diagnosed with brain cancer.
Carcinogens
According to Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., author of "Brain Cancer Prevention", avoiding carcinogens not only reduces your risk of brain cancer, but also lowers your risk of other cancers. Reducing your overall cancer risk is important, as secondary brain cancer is the most frequent type of brain cancer. The most common types of cancer that have brain metastases are colon cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer, kidney (renal) cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
Some of the ways to avoid carcinogens are to quit smoking and reduce your time around secondary smoke, cut down on an excessive use of alcohol, eliminate unnecessary sun exposure and wear sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
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