Dr. Llanos on the Role of Social and Biological Determinants on Cancer Risk

Adana A.M. Llanos, PhD, MPH, cancer and molecular epidemiologist, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, adjunct associate professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, discusses the role of social and biological determinants on cancer risk.

An individual’s lived experiences should be one of the factors considered when determining who may be at an elevated risk for a cancer diagnosis, Llanos says. Combining an individual’s social determinants of health with biological and molecular factors can create a clearer picture when assessing cancer risk, Llanos explains.

Utilizing all available information to understand which individuals may be at a greater risk for cancer can allow clinicians to better address the needs of those individuals, Llanos continues. Better understanding the role of social mechanisms in cancer risk can also help address disparities on a larger scale, Llanos concludes.