Are modern lifestyles to blame for the rise in cancer rates? How often do people get cancer? One in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime. Shocking stats? Learn when cancer occurs and how to protect yourself.
What causes cancer?
The causes of cancer may be multiple and diversified. Cancer develops due to many factors, including genetic, environmental, and individual patient features. In most cases, the disease is not caused by a single factor, but by a mix of them.
Natural mechanisms maintain a strict cell count balance in our bodies. New cells appear when the body grows and develops, or to replace dying ones.
Every cell division shortens telomeres – DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome that determine the length of cells life. So what causes cancer cells to survive longer? Their extended life is possible due to hyperactive enzyme that rebuilds telomeres endlessly. Cancer cells divide and grow, despite mutations and abnormal functioning.
Cancer often occurs as a result of a single-cell mutation. It means that a sequence encoding essential protein that maintains cell activity changes or is disrupted, and that protein may no longer do its job.
Normally, our body can arrest division or remove abnormal cells using immune cells. But sometimes, the perfectly crafted mechanisms fail. As a result, cells transform into cancer, divide, and form tumours.
The most frequently reported cancer risk factors
Cancer becomes prevalent. Today, we know over 200 types of cancer. Scientists and healthcare professionals observe that cancer incidence rates are rising. They also indicate some risk factors that can make you prone to this disease.
What is a risk factor? This term refers to anything that increases the chance of developing cancer. It can either be a direct cause of the disease, or make the body more susceptible to it.
What is the biggest cause of cancer? Unhealthy lifestyle choices, like the Western diet, smoking, and lack of physical activity were named as main factors contributing to its development. WHO estimates they are responsible for one-third of cancer cases. Infections, with one-fifth of cancer cases, take the second place.
Below we listed the most important risk factors:
- People live longer
The longer you live, the more you are exposed to harmful environmental factors and your chances of developing cancer increase. Elderly people are identified as those who are the most likely to get cancer.
- Unhealthy lifestyle
Low physical activity and the Western diet lead to many diseases, including cancer.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol
Harmful substances you inhale with cigarette smoke may cause mutation in your cells and develop into cancer.
- Environmental conditions
Our bodies are exposed to pollutants, UV radiation from the sun, and extreme weather conditions. Free radicals produced in this process can destroy proteins and nucleic acids, leading to cancer formation.
- Being a carrier of cancer genes
Some gene variants make people more susceptible to developing cancer. For example, suppose you have a family member who suffered or died from cancer. In that case, you may be bearing a cancer-promoting variant and be at higher risk of developing the disease.
- Infection
Viruses like the Human Papilloma Virus integrate with the human DNA, disrupting gene integrity and transforming healthy cells into cancer ones.
- Genetic disorders
Genetic conditions known to alter the immune system functioning are associated with blood cancers. For example, damaged stem cells in the bone marrow will produce new immune cells that are abnormal or cancer cells.
- Radiation and chemotherapy
A patient who survived cancer and was treated with chemotherapeutics and radiation, may develop secondary cancer later in life. Why? Chemo- and radiotherapy target rapidly dividing cells, including the immune cells. As a result, treatment can change and lower their ability to beat cancer in the future.
Types of genes that cause cancer
Analyses of the human genome changed how we diagnose and treat cancer. Nine out of ten cancers carry genetic alterations. Some of them may be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.
Healthcare specialists may assess the risk of getting cancer on a basis of an analysis of patient’s genetic data. This helps diagnose you at the early stage of the disease when the chances for recovery are very high.
Healthcare professionals divide cancer genes into three groups:
- Oncogenes regulate normal cell growth, but suddenly, they may become unable to control the cell anymore, and this leads to cancer. Genes encoding RAS proteins are an example of oncogenes. Their mutations are found in one out of four human cancers;
- Proteins produced on a basis of tumour suppressor genes can identify damaged or cancer cells and arrest their division until the defect is fixed. They act like guardians, but if their sequence mutates, too, they can no longer function properly, resulting in unrestricted cancer development. The common representants of this group are BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. If you have these gene mutations, you are at higher risk of getting certain types of breast and ovarian cancers;
- Mismatch-repair genes help recognize DNA damage after copying genetic material during cell division. If the DNA strands do not match perfectly, they find mismatch places and repair errors. If mismatch-repair genes are mutated and cannot function normally, errors in DNA are transferred to new cells, causing their damage. Mutations of genes belonging to this group are often identified in colorectal and brain tumours.
What can you do to reduce your cancer risk?
The good news is you can do several things to prevent cancer or stay healthy for longer. Informed lifestyle choices will reduce your risk significantly.
How can you avoid cancer? Follow the following tips:
- Maintain a healthy diet
Choose fresh vegetables, fruit, and unprocessed foods low in sugars and saturated fats. Remember to hydrate yourself and limit your caffeine intake.
- Exercise more
Studies demonstrate that moderate to vigorous physical activity lowers your risk of getting cancer. So let yourself get sweaty!
- Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
It is essential not to smoke cigarettes and avoid secondhand smoke, as smoking is linked to 12 types of cancers. Similarly, drinking alcohol may cause six types of cancer.
- Use creams with UV screens and limit sunbathing
Avoid tanning parlours, prolonged sun exposure, and take care of your skin to prevent skin cancer.
- Avoid pollutants and toxins if possible
Use an anti-smog mask, multi-use glass bottles, and rinse fruit and vegetables well. Always minimize contact with toxic substances.
- Get vaccinated
This is important, especially for women. The vaccine may help you avoid HPV infection, lowering the chances of developing cervical cancer.
- Know your body, learn the symptoms and the self-examination scheme, and undergo regular checkups
Knowing how your body usually looks and feels will help you notice alarming changes. Schedule your medical appointments with sufficient frequency. You will have a higher chance of detecting cancer in the early stadium and recovering.
To wrap up
Cancer occurs when cells start to divide and grow without control. You may inherit a mutated gene, or it can appear spontaneously due to environmental exposures. The best ways to prevent cancer are regular checkups and lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk of developing the disease.
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