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Social status of parents influences the development of cancer in children
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Scientists have long noticed an interesting pattern, according to which there is a connection between the development of certain types of cancerous tumors and a person's social status. Thus, people born into families with a certain socioeconomic status have an increased risk of developing oncological diseases in adulthood.
American scientists representing the University of Utah (Salt Lake City) have been conducting relevant research for many decades in order to prevent the likelihood of cancer in people with an increased risk.
The university staff made a clear conclusion after observing the life expectancy and morbidity statistics of people born in the 1940s-60s for a long time. It was during this period that the occupation and professional affiliation of the baby's parents began to be indicated in the birth document. The scientists took into account, first of all, the social status and financial situation of the Americans born at that time.
The conducted studies helped specialists determine whether the social and financial status of a family can leave an imprint on the health of offspring and become a risk factor in the development of various cancer processes.
It was found that the conditions in which a child spent his childhood significantly affect the likelihood of developing cardiovascular pathologies, endocrine diseases and other problems, including oncological ones.
After carefully assessing the life circumstances of forty thousand Americans, experts came to an important conclusion: the presence of financial wealth and quality living conditions, contrary to forecasts, really increase the risk of developing cancer processes. Although in percentage terms, the share of cancerous tumors in such generations is significantly lower than the incidence of strokes or diabetes.
Moreover, a pattern in the localization of malignant foci was determined:
- Children from wealthy families could in some cases develop skin, prostate and breast cancer;
- Children from poor families were more likely to suffer from uterine cancer.
Malignant lesions such as lung or intestinal cancer could appear regardless of the conditions in which the child was born and raised. Scientists associate such diseases more with smoking and human nutrition.
At the moment, medical experts are deciding whether the data obtained during the experiment can be used to prevent or predict the likelihood of cancer in the population. It is quite possible that soon, when doctors listen to a patient's complaints, they will collect additional information about the income level of his parents and the conditions in which he spent his childhood. If this strategy works, then measures to prevent malignant neoplasms will become much more effective, and the incidence of cancer will decrease.