What Causes Cancer?

What causes cancer? Cancer starts from the development of one abnormal cell. Some vital genes, which are responsible for controlling how cells divide and multiply, become altered or damaged and this causes a cell to become abnormal. If this abnormal cell survives, it may then multiply uncontrollably into a malignant tumor.

Most cancers seemingly occur for no obvious or apparent reason so it can be difficult to know what causes cancer. However, there are certain risk factors that are known to increase the likelihood of one or more cells becoming abnormal and possibly leading to cancer.

Chemical Carcinogens

Chemical carcinogens are one possible answer to the question of what causes cancer. A carcinogen can damage a cell and can increase its risk of turning into a cancerous cell. The higher the level of exposure to a carcinogen, the greater the health risk.

Tobacco smoke, for example, is one example of a chemical carcinogen. Smokers are likely to develop cancer of the lungs, throat, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, and bladder. Smoking is said to be the cause of about a quarter of all types of cancers.

Workplace chemicals are another carcinogen source. Examples of air pollutant carcinogens that you may encounter at work include asbestos, diesel vehicle exhaust, wood dust, soot, and benzene just to name a few.

Water pollutant carcinogens may also contribute to cancer. These include pesticide residues, heavy metals, coal-fired power wastes, chlorine by-products, industrial chemicals, arsenic, fluoride, and hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Age

Age is another factor that could contribute to cancer risk. The older you are, the higher your chances are of developing cancer because the older you are, the more accumulation of cell damage you have. In addition, your body defenses and resistance to the formation of abnormal cells may become less efficient as you grow older.

Radiation

Exposure to nuclear and radioactive materials can increase the risk of developing leukemia and other cancers. Too much exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays increases your risk for skin cancer. Research has also shown that electromagnetic radiation from cell towers, cell phones, and wired or wireless electronic devices can produce significant damage to the brain and can possibly cause you to develop to cancer.

Lifestyle Factors

Diet and other lifestyle factors may either increase or decrease your risk of developing cancer. If your diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, you may effectively reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Healthy fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals which contain chemicals called antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body against damaging chemicals.

Those who consume lots of fried and fatty foods increase their risk of developing cancer. Your chances of having cancer can also be heightened by obesity, lack of physical activity, and consuming a lot of alcohol.

Genetic Makeup

Some types of cancer have connections to your genetics. For instance, some childhood cancers may involve abnormal genes that are inherited and that trigger another cell to become altered or abnormal. Certain genes can also make you less resistant to the harmful effects of carcinogens and other risk factors.

Infection and Immune Problems

Viruses can be linked to some types of cancers. For example, those with persistent infections such as hepatitis B or C have higher chances of developing cancer of the liver.

Those who have weak immune systems also have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers. For instance, those diagnosed with AIDS or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy have very poor immunes systems, and so the immune system may not be able to fight off an abnormal cell.

Developing Cancer

Of course, not everyone who is exposed to a carcinogen or lives a sedentary lifestyle will develop cancer. For example not all smokers develop cancer of the lungs while there are even non-smokers who have developed the disease. It is also a fact that everyone has been exposed to different doses of carcinogens throughout their lives and their effect on people will vary.

The body has mechanisms and properties which help protect it from developing cancer. As a result, many of those cells that are affected by carcinogens can naturally repair themselves. Furthermore, your immune system was built to destroy certain types of abnormal cells before they even develop into a malignant tumor.

So in most cases, a combination of certain risk factors such as diet, age, and carcinogen exposure all contribute to triggering a cell to become abnormal and eventually, causing cancer.