News
The Impact of Violence on Cancer Risk Factors for Marginalized Populations
Host, Dr. Catherine Cerulli is joined by her guests, Ash B. Alpert, MD, MFA, and Sabrina Jamileh Sayegh. Dr. Alpert and Sabrina explore the mechanisms by which violence plays a role in social determinants of health and how violence can contribute to cancer and/or cancer risk factors. Dr. Alpert explains that there are 4 major ways violence can lead to cancer and/or cancer risk factors including: 1) increased stress, otherwise known as allostatic load, which can lead to a higher risk of cancer through inflammatory pathways, 2) increased exposure to viruses including HPV, HIV and hepatitis for those exposed to sexual violence, 3) increased distress which can lead to increased substance use which can increase the risk of certain cancers including lung and liver cancer, and 4) increased mental distress and illness, which is linked to increased mortality for people living with cancer.
Source: The Transform Center