What Causes Cancer?

What Causes Cancer? The question has been asked or thought about by many, perhaps most cancer patients and their families. Indeed, there are many factors which can cause cancer.

Certain causes of cancer like smoking can be controlled. Others like age cannot. In order to give our readers the opportunity to take steps to reduce cancer risks we have divided it into factors you can control and factors you cannot.

What Causes Cancer: Factors you can Control

1. Smoking and tobacco: smoking is one of the most well known causes of cancer which can be prevented. Smoking can cause many cancers not just lung cancer.

2. Alcohol: avoid drinking, especially excessive drinking as much as possible.

3. General health: being overweight or unfit increases the odds of cancer striking. Exercise is known to cut risks. Be in shape.

4. Sun: avoid being in the sun too long. Excessive radiation from the sun is known to increase cancer risks, especially for skin cancers.

5. Chemicals: exposure to certain chemicals like asbestos cancer increase cancer risk.

6. Unsafe sex: sexually transmitted diseases can lead to certain cancers like cervical cancer.

7. Food: eat a healthy, well balanced diet.

8. Infections: certain infections like AIDS or HIV significantly increase cancer risk. Take precautions to avoid these diseases.

What Causes Cancer: Factors you cannot Control

1. Family history: cancer in the family often means bad news. We recommend MyRisk testing for individuals with a family history of cancer.

2. Gender: certain cancers exhibit a strong gender bias. For example, women are more prone to breast cancer than men.

3. Age: cancer is more common the older you get.

4. Ethnicity: different ethnic groups can be more prone to different cancer types.

References:

https://www.allaboutcancer.fi/facts-about-cancer/what-causes-cancer/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/cancer/cancer/cancer-causes.html