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changes in protein profiles in bortezomib applied multiple myeloma ...

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1.2.3. Risk Factors for MM<br />

A risk factor can be def<strong>in</strong>ed as anyth<strong>in</strong>g which alterates a person's chance of<br />

gett<strong>in</strong>g the disease.<br />

The known risk factors for MM are as follows ;<br />

Age is the most crucial risk factor for MM, as nearly 98% of cases are<br />

diagnosed <strong>in</strong> people over the age of 40. It means that only 2% of patients are younger<br />

than 40 years old. Furthermore, more than 75% of these patients over the age of 70.<br />

Median age for men is about 62 years and for women 61 years at diagnosis (Raab et al.,<br />

2009).<br />

It is thought that susceptibility to get MM may <strong>in</strong>crease with the ag<strong>in</strong>g process.<br />

Because it affects the the people <strong>in</strong> a negative way <strong>in</strong> terms of the result of reduction <strong>in</strong><br />

immune surveillance of evolv<strong>in</strong>g cancer or accumulation of toxic substances. So, the<br />

risk of the catch<strong>in</strong>g MM goes up with age.<br />

MM has two times more common <strong>in</strong>cidence <strong>in</strong> men than <strong>in</strong> women. Thus, men<br />

are slightly more likely to develop this disease when compared to women (Mitsiades et<br />

al., 2004; Sirohi and Powles, 2004).<br />

Race is also risk factor for MM. It is almost twice as common among African<br />

Americans than white Americans. The higher <strong>in</strong>cidence of MM <strong>in</strong> African Americans<br />

and the much less frequent occurrence <strong>in</strong> Asians refer genetic factors (Cohen et al.,<br />

1998; Malpas et al., 1998).<br />

Exposure to radiation may <strong>in</strong>crease the risk of <strong>multiple</strong> <strong>myeloma</strong> (ACS, 2011).<br />

People who has a sibl<strong>in</strong>g or parent with MM is four times more likely to<br />

constitute cancer than would be expected. Still, most patients have no affected relatives,<br />

so this accounts for only a small number of cases (ACS, 2011).<br />

Some studies have suggested that people <strong>in</strong> agricultural occupations, workers<br />

both <strong>in</strong> certa<strong>in</strong> petroleum-related <strong>in</strong>dustries and leather <strong>in</strong>dustries and cosmetologists all<br />

seem to have a higher-than-average chance of develop<strong>in</strong>g MM. Exposure to herbicides,<br />

<strong>in</strong>secticides, petroleum products, heavy metals, plastics and various dusts <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

asbestos also appear to be risk factors for the disease. In addition, people exposed to<br />

large amounts of radiation, such as survivors of the atomic bomb explosions, have an<br />

<strong>in</strong>creased risk for MM, although this accounts for a very small number of cases (ACS,<br />

2011).<br />

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