Risk Factors

All cancers have risk factors. These risk factors are not collected as data items in the registry field, but should be documented in the text fields in the abstract.

Per the NCI Dictionary, risk factors increase the chance of developing a disease. These can include age, family history, tobacco use, radiation exposure, medical history, and genetics.

For more general information about Risk Factors, see Risk Factors for Cancer or for specific information on risk factors for prostate see Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) - NCI.

Updated: June 15, 2026

Suggested Citation

SEER Training Modules: Risk Factors. U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Cited 17 June 2026. Available from: https://training.seer.cancer.gov.