What Causes Cancer
Cancer is defined as the overgrowth of abnormal cells in the body, which typically go on to invade other tissues and organs within the body. This uncontrolled growth if left untreated may be deadly in most cases. There are more than 100 different kinds of cancers which may be seperated into 5 different group including: carcinoma, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma and central nervous system cancers. There are a lot of factors that are alleged to induce the development of cancers. Although certain persons are more at risk of developing cancer, it is thought that any human can develop the disease even if he or she does not seem to have any of the associated risk factors. A few of these risk factors are potrayed below.
Genetic Factor:
Having a genetic factor may play a great role in developing the disease. Normally a genetic link can be detected when 1's family history is examined. Having 1 or more relatives with the disease heightens the likelihood that a person may develop the disease especially with hereditary cancers prefer breast cancer which may materialize because of a mutated gene. Some people with a family history of the disease select to undergo genetic counselling and testing to figure out their own risk. If it is discovered that the person has a copy of a mutated gene associated with the development of the disease then he or she is at a significantly greater risk of developing the disease. However it is possible to sustain a genetic predisposition for developing cancer without actually being plagued by the disease at any point in 1's lifetime.
Tobacco:
Smoking is a very unhealthy habit that not only increases an individual's risk for cancer but also other diseases prefer hypertension and heart disease. Tobacco in cigarettes and cigars is comprised of at least 250 harmful chemicals that have been discovered to have carcinogenic properties or cancer causing agents. 87% of lung cancer patients are recognized smokers. Smoking also threatens to increase the risk for other types of cancer which includes cancers of the mouth, the cervix, the throat, the pancreas, the larynx, the bladder and kidneys. It is suggested that quitting an addictive smoking habit can significantly lessen the risk for the disease.
Environmental Factors:
There are various pollutants and other toxic substances that most people may come in contact with on a normal basis. The exhaust from cars and other vehicles have been known to contain certain carcinogenic elements prefer carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadiene that circulate in the air day-to-day. Along with other air pollutants, the air we breathe can then mostly house cancer triggering particles. There are worse chemicals that can be uncovered in the environment including asbestos, which is said to cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos over a period of time generally triggers these types of cancers. Another harmful chemical is benzene which has been shown to have cancer causing effects. There are still many other chemicals that are being studied to verify whether or not they may induce cancer. This type of research is in progress and necessary as it helps keep the public aware.
Sun Exposure:
The harmful UV rays from the sun have been set-up to have the disadvantage of fueling cancerous growths on the skin cells or epidermis and dermis. As a result it is intimated that people wear sun protection in the form of a sun block with at least an SPF of 15 to lessen the penetration of UV rays into the outer layers of the skin. Studies have also pointed out that having as little as 1 intense case of sun burn in childhood may heighten 1's overall risk of developing skin cancer.
Cancer is defined as the overgrowth of abnormal cells in the body, which typically go on to invade other tissues and organs within the body. This uncontrolled growth if left untreated may be deadly in most cases. There are more than 100 different kinds of cancers which may be seperated into 5 different group including: carcinoma, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma and central nervous system cancers. There are a lot of factors that are alleged to induce the development of cancers. Although certain persons are more at risk of developing cancer, it is thought that any human can develop the disease even if he or she does not seem to have any of the associated risk factors. A few of these risk factors are potrayed below.
Genetic Factor:
Having a genetic factor may play a great role in developing the disease. Normally a genetic link can be detected when 1's family history is examined. Having 1 or more relatives with the disease heightens the likelihood that a person may develop the disease especially with hereditary cancers prefer breast cancer which may materialize because of a mutated gene. Some people with a family history of the disease select to undergo genetic counselling and testing to figure out their own risk. If it is discovered that the person has a copy of a mutated gene associated with the development of the disease then he or she is at a significantly greater risk of developing the disease. However it is possible to sustain a genetic predisposition for developing cancer without actually being plagued by the disease at any point in 1's lifetime.
Tobacco:
Smoking is a very unhealthy habit that not only increases an individual's risk for cancer but also other diseases prefer hypertension and heart disease. Tobacco in cigarettes and cigars is comprised of at least 250 harmful chemicals that have been discovered to have carcinogenic properties or cancer causing agents. 87% of lung cancer patients are recognized smokers. Smoking also threatens to increase the risk for other types of cancer which includes cancers of the mouth, the cervix, the throat, the pancreas, the larynx, the bladder and kidneys. It is suggested that quitting an addictive smoking habit can significantly lessen the risk for the disease.
Environmental Factors:
There are various pollutants and other toxic substances that most people may come in contact with on a normal basis. The exhaust from cars and other vehicles have been known to contain certain carcinogenic elements prefer carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadiene that circulate in the air day-to-day. Along with other air pollutants, the air we breathe can then mostly house cancer triggering particles. There are worse chemicals that can be uncovered in the environment including asbestos, which is said to cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos over a period of time generally triggers these types of cancers. Another harmful chemical is benzene which has been shown to have cancer causing effects. There are still many other chemicals that are being studied to verify whether or not they may induce cancer. This type of research is in progress and necessary as it helps keep the public aware.
Sun Exposure:
The harmful UV rays from the sun have been set-up to have the disadvantage of fueling cancerous growths on the skin cells or epidermis and dermis. As a result it is intimated that people wear sun protection in the form of a sun block with at least an SPF of 15 to lessen the penetration of UV rays into the outer layers of the skin. Studies have also pointed out that having as little as 1 intense case of sun burn in childhood may heighten 1's overall risk of developing skin cancer.