Cancer Causes

Causes of Cancer

Researchers and medical doctors are continually searching for the causes of the 200 different kinds of cancer that the medical community has thus far identified. Fortunately, research has yielded some very powerful evidence on the specific risk factors that predispose an individual to developing cancer but its precise still remains nebulous.

Cancer can occur in any kind of tissue within the body but its specific cause is actually a combination of varying factors that create just the perfect environment for abnormal cell growth to occur. A cancer is named for where it starts for instance, stomach cancer begins in the stomach and breast cancer originates from a malignant tumor in the breast. But as the cancer grows, it can spread to other areas of the body which is why cancer of the liver can at some point metastasize, a medical term for spread, to the bones. What makes one kind of cancer develop over another is a mysterious interplay among genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors.

The risk factors for cancer can be separated into specific categories. Genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors all contribute to the process of developing cancer. Here are some of the most salient risk factors in each category.

Genetics

All of us are born with our own set of genes that dictate how tall we will be, the color of our eyes and the width of our smile. These very genes also play a role in our health. In order for a cancer to occur, there must be a mutation within the cell. But for some individuals, they are born with such mutations that increase their risk for developing cancer. For instance, certain cancers, like specific kinds of breast cancer are linked to having a specific kind of gene, specifically, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene. Molecular genetics has been able to locate such cancer-trigger genes through a complex process known as gene testing. But testing positive for certain cancer genes does not mean that the person will develop cancer. Instead, it simply means that they are predisposed to that specific kind of cancer.

Environment

Being exposed to environments that expose you to certain chemicals, radiation, asbestos and sunlight are risk factors for developing cancer. Some of these environmental risk factors are avoidable while others are not. Workers who work very closely with chemical dyes have a greater incidence of certain cancers like bladder cancer than those who don’t. In addition, the Chernobyl power-plant disaster in 1986 provided researchers with powerful evidence for the role of nuclear radiation and thyroid cancer as significant increases of this kind of cancer were seen in the years following the catastrophe.

Lifestyle

It is estimated that one-third of all the cancer cases in the United States could be prevented through lifestyle changes. Foremost on this list is smoking. Smoking is a significant risk factor for cancer of lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, breast, bladder and countless other cancers. In addition, alcohol use has been associated with increased risk for breast, liver, mouth, throat, rectum and esophageal cancers. Being overweight, consuming an unhealthy diet and leading a sedentary lifestyle are strongly associated with the development of cancer as well.

While many of these lifestyle factors can be altered, age, another powerful risk factor for developing cancer, cannot. Therefore, you can help to protect yourself from cancer by altering those risk factors that are amenable to change such as diet, exercise practices and smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors.