How does radiation cause cancer

Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy may increase a person's risk of developing a different type of cancer later in life. Here we discuss the risk of second cancers that may be linked to past cancer treatment. Not all types of radiation have been proven to cause cancer. Learn what we know about exposure to lower-energy forms of radiation and cancer risk. Questions to Ask about Your Treatment. Feelings and Cancer. Adjusting to Cancer.

Day-to-Day Life. Support for Caregivers. Questions to Ask About Cancer. Choices for Care. Talking about Your Advanced Cancer. Planning for Advanced Cancer. Advanced Cancer and Caregivers. Questions to Ask about Advanced Cancer. Managing Cancer Care. Finding Health Care Services. Advance Directives. Using Trusted Resources. Coronavirus Information for Patients. Clinical Trials during Coronavirus. Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer. Emotional Support for Young People with Cancer.

Cancers by Body Location. Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment. Pediatric Supportive Care. Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment. Childhood Cancer Genomics. Study Findings. Metastatic Cancer Research. Intramural Research. Extramural Research. Cancer Research Workforce. Partners in Cancer Research. What Are Cancer Research Studies. Research Studies. Get Involved. The effect of radiation on the risk of developing a solid tumor cancer depends on factors such as:.

Some types of chemotherapy chemo drugs have been linked with different kinds of second cancers. Acute lymphocytic leukemia ALL has also been linked to chemo.

Chemo is known to be a greater risk factor than radiation therapy in causing leukemia. The risk gets higher with higher drug doses , longer treatment time , and higher dose-intensity more drug given over a short period of time. Chemotherapy agents that have an increased risk for second cancers include:. But the benefit of the cancer treatment far outweighs the risk of a secondary malignancy.

Learn more about the risk factors for skin cancer. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. What is radiation? Ionizing radiation Non-ionizing radiation This type of radiation is strong enough to remove an electron from the nucleus of an atom.

High doses on ionizing radiation may lead to radiation sickness, neurological issues and diseases, including cancer. Sources of ionizing radiation include: Ultraviolet light X-rays Nuclear power or weapons Radon This type of radiation is made up of weaker electromagnetic waves that are not powerful enough to disassemble an atom.

But this type of radiation may still cause cell damage in high doses. Sources of non-ionizing radiation include: Microwaves Radio waves TVs and computer monitors Cell phones Radiation was first discovered as a potential cancer treatment around the turn of the 20 th century.