Risks for cancer of unknown primary
Certain behaviours, substances or conditions can affect your risk, or chance, of developing cancer. Some things increase your risk and some things decrease it. Most cancers are the result of many risks. But sometimes cancer develops in people who don't have any risks.
It is very hard to know what the specific risks are for cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This is because the cancer had already spread before it was found and doctors don't know where it started in the body. So CUP may have the same risks as different types of cancer.
Like many types of cancer, CUP most often affects older people. It is usually diagnosed in people who are around 60 years of age.
The following can increase your risk for CUP. There are things you can do to lower your risk and help protect yourself from developing cancer.
Smoking tobacco
All forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless (spit) tobacco, may increase your risk for CUP.
In many cases doctors find out that CUP started as cancer of the lung, pancreas, kidney, esophagus or head and neck. Smoking tobacco is a risk factor for these types of cancer.
Learn more about how to live smoke-free.
Diet, physical activity and excess weight
CUP can start as colorectal, stomach or ovarian cancer. Not eating well, not getting enough physical activity and having
Learn more about how to eat well, move more, sit less, and have a healthy body weight.
Sun and indoor tanning
The sun and indoor tanning equipment, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, increase your risk for CUP. Having a tan means that your skin has been damaged. The sun and indoor tanning can cause sunburns, premature aging, cataracts and skin cancers.
Learn more about how to be sun safe.
Understanding your cancer risk
To make the decisions that are right for you, ask your healthcare team questions about risks. Learn how cancer can be prevented and what you can do to reduce your risk.