Environmental Risks Flashcards
What is risk?
The chance or probability that injury or harm will occur
What is a risk factor
Characteristic associated with cancer prevelance
How can you determine if a characteristic is a risk factor
Determine the relative risk associated with a particular characteristic
How is relative risk risk calculated
RR = absolute risk WITH factor/absolute WITHOUT factor
What is absolute risk
The chance of getting cancer for a group of individuals
ex - 13% of intact 10 year old female dogs develop mammary cancer
If RR is >1, then there is…………….risk
Increased
If RR is <1, then there is………………risk
Decreased
What are the study types for dtermining RR
Prospective (cohort) study
Retrospective (case) study
What is a prospective study
2 populations: 1 exposed to risk factor, 1 not
Monitor for disease
Calculate RR for each population
What is a retrospective study
Done ‘after the fact’ eg when patient presents with a disease
Determine which proportion of the population was exposed vs not
Determine odd ratio, determine RR
What does RR NOT tell us
The prevalence or incidence
Absolute risk
What are some examples of true carcinogenic risk factors
Tobacco
Alcohol consumption
UV radiation
How can risk factors be evaluated
Strength of the evidence
Size of associated risk
Impact of risk factor
Criteria for evaluating the strength if evidence
Design and execution of studies
Multiple independent studies done?
Dose-response relationship
Plausible biological reason
How is the impact of a risk factor evaluated
Size of the RR
How many individuals have the risk factor
What are some limitations of risk factor studies
Results only applicable to similar groups
Values are from a low/high comparison and don’t represent the ‘middle’ of the group
Findings apply to GROUPS not individuals
What are some ways to use risk factor studies
Screening tools
Risk reduction strategies
Stepping stones for further studies
What are some general risk factors for veterinary patients
Age
Physical features
Hormones
Environment
Hereditary factors
Lightly colored skin is associated with an increased risk for…
Squamous cell carcinoma
Grey horses have a higher risk for…
Melanoma
In cattle, what virus increases their risk for what cancer
Bovine leukemia virus –> lymphoma
What increases a dog’s risk of mammary cancer
Being spayed after 2nd estrus
What increases a dog’s risk for bone cancer
Weighing more than 44kg
What increases a cat’s risk of mammary cancer
Being spayed after 6 months of age
What increases a cat’s risk of lymphoma
Having FeLV, FIV
Exposed to tobacco smoke
What’s the deal with neutering and cancer
Neutered dogs have a decreased risk of dying from infection, trauma, and vascular disease
They have an increased risk of dying from neoplasia and immune-mediated diseases
But, they also live longer and age is a risk factor for cancer
