Causes of Cancer
Causes of Cancer And Behaviors That May Increase Cancer Risk
Cancer is a disease that is caused by very many causes. The disease has robbed us of our relatives and it is better that we learn how it is caused so that at least we may be able to avoid it given that most of the causes of cancer can be avoided if we adopt a healthy lifestyle. The journey towards being cancer free begins by knowing cancer; its cause, how to avoid it and finally how to treat it. It is therefore important to know the causes of cancer just as much as it is to know its best treatment options available that can work better and safely. There are also some behaviors that will escalate your risk of getting cancer. If these behaviors are made known then those concerned will refrain from indulging in them so as to reduce their chances of getting cancer.
Cancer often begins from a single cell and this happens when the genetic composition of the cell is altered. A condition referred to as gene mutation. Gene mutations will eventually stop a cell from performing its functions normally. The cells that have problem with gene composition become cancerous and begin multiplying uncontrollably a key feature in cancerous cells. Gene mutations may happen to an individual from his interactions with the environment or a person may inherit cancer gene from the parents. Most cancers are caused by gene faults that happen in our lifetime. Most cancers are as a result of destroyed DNA, which may be done by carcinogens that a person is exposed to. These carcinogens destroy the DNA increasing the risk of cancer.
Examples of carcinogens that may result in the destruction of the cell DNA is eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as commercial poultry and commercial dairy. The genetically engineered foods contain harmful compounds that destroy DNA and increasing the cancer risk. Industrial chemicals such as benzene also have a negative effect on an individual and may affect the genetic composition of the cells making them more vulnerable to cancer.
There is a fault repair gene but if it doesn’t work as it should and fails to repair the other genetic mistakes that we all gather as we go through life your chances of getting cancer increases.
People who are born to a parent with a mutated gene have high chances of getting cancer. This however does not mean that they must develop cancer but it actually escalates their risk of getting cancer. We share genes from both parents and therefore if one parent has a faulty gene, we have a 50% chance of inheriting it when we are born.
Environmental causes of cancer
The environmental we inhabit has a great influence on whether we stay cancer free or not. The air we breathe as well as the foods we eat are polluted and so we are highly exposed to cancer. The heavy metals that are dangerous to life have been found in insecticides and herbicides among other chemicals that we use. The traces of heavy metals remain in the foods that the insecticides are used on. These heavy metals cause myriad of problems in our bodies that increases our risk of cancer infection as they may interfere with the normal cell functioning including cell DNA composition that when affected causes cancer. Exposure to such harmful substances like benzene, chlorinated water and pesticides increases a person’s cancer risks. It is quite a pity that those who are exposed to these harmful substances in most cases do not even know that they increase their risk to cancer.
Researchers have been able to prove that even the antibacterial detergents we use can cause cancer as they contain harmful compounds like Triclosan which is very dangerous to health as it disrupts the endocrine functions interfering with the normal metabolism and concentration of hormones in the body. This compound is available in most household items like soaps and toothpastes among other household items. According to the latest research findings, triclosan can improve the growth of cancer cells especially in the breast tissues.
Smoking and cancer
Smoking tobacco increases the smokers risk to cancer greatly. This is because the tobacco smoke has about 60 chemicals that affect the body functions and cause cancer. The tobacco smoke increases your risk to cancer by damaging a gene called p53. This gene is found in all the cells in the nucleus and it helps by prevent the cancer cell growth. Smoking is the leading cause of the gene p53 mutations in cancer patients. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer but is also known to cause cancer of the mouth, throat, nasal, bowel, cervix and bone cancer. Lung cancer is the type of cancer with the least survival rates and causes most deaths.
Multiple sexual partners
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV. HPV is a viral infection and by putting yourself at risk of HPV increases your chances of getting cervical cancer. Getting yourself into sexual activities with many people increases your chances of getting HPV.
The risk of getting the HPV increases with the number of sexual partners you have. When the number is growing, your chances are also increasing. If you reduce the number of sexual partners you have, the fewer the chances of getting cervical cancer. Having sexual partners not only increases your chances of getting cervical cancer but also other diseases like HIV.
Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) has a website that avails cancer information to those seeking information. You can check on her website to learn more on how you can stay cancer free.
Causes of Cancer and Behaviors That May Increase Cancer Risk
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