Questions People Ask About Cancer - part 2

What causes cancer?

Things people do

Some cancers are caused by things people do or expose themselves to. For example, smoking can cause cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and other organs. Of course, not everyone who smokes will get cancer, but smoking increases a person’s chance of cancer, as well as their chance of heart and blood vessel disease.

Being in the sun too much without protection can cause skin cancer. Melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer linked to sunlight and tanning bed exposure.

Other things people are exposed to

Radiation can cause cancer. For example, people exposed to nuclear fallout have a higher cancer risk than those who were not exposed. Rarely, radiation treatment for one type of cancer can cause another cancer to grow many years later. This is why doctors and dentists use the lowest possible doses of radiation for x-rays and scans (much lower than the doses used for cancer treatment).

Certain chemicals have been linked to cancer, too. Being exposed to or working with them can increase a person’s risk of cancer. You can learn more about these carcinogens (substances that cause cancer) in our document called Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.

Genes that run in families

Of every 20 cases of cancer, about 1 is linked to genes that are inherited from parents.

Bottom line

No one knows the exact cause of most cases of cancer. We know that certain changes in our cells can cause cancer to start, but we don’t yet know exactly how it all happens. Scientists are studying this problem and learning more about the many steps it takes for cancers to form and grow. Although some of the factors in these steps may be a lot alike, the process that happens in the cells is generally different for each type of cancer.

Can cancer be prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent cancer, but there are things you can do that might reduce your chances of getting it.

Tobacco

Many cancers might be prevented if people didn’t use tobacco.

Smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body and accounts for some 30% of all cancer deaths. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and oral (smokeless) tobacco products cause cancer and should not be used. People who use tobacco should try to quit. Studies clearly show that ex-smokers have less cancer than people who continue to smoke.

It’s best to never use tobacco at all and to stay away from secondhand smoke.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is also linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer.

Some people think that certain types of alcohol are safer than others. But ethanol is the type of alcohol found in all alcoholic drinks, whether they are beers, wines, or liquors (distilled spirits). Overall, it’s the amount of alcohol that is drunk over time, not the type of drink, which seems to be the most important factor in raising cancer risk.

If you drink, limit your intake to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink a day for women. This may help curb your cancer risk. You can find out more in our document called Alcohol Use and Cancer.

Drinking and smoking

The combined use of alcohol and tobacco raises the risk of mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus cancer far more than the effects of either drinking or smoking alone.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays and sunlight

You can lower your chances of getting skin cancer by:

·  Staying out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

·  Wearing a hat, shirt, and sunglasses when you are in the sun

·  Using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher

·  Not using tanning beds or sun lamps

Diet

We know that our diet (what we eat or don’t eat) is linked to some types of cancer, but the exact reasons are not yet clear. The best information we have suggests a lower cancer risk for people who:

·  Eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits (at least 2½ cups a day)

·  Choose whole grains rather than refined grains and sugars

·  Limit red meats (beef, pork, and lamb)

·  Limit processed meats (such as bacon, deli meats, and hot dogs)

·  Choose foods in amounts that help them get to and stay at a healthy weight

·  Limit alcohol intake to 1 alcoholic drink a day or less for women and 2 or less for men

Vaccines that reduce cancer risk

We now know that some cancers are caused by infections, mostly viruses. One virus that’s well known for causing cancer is the human papilloma virus (HPV). It has been linked to cervical cancer, anal cancer, many genital cancers, and some head and neck cancers.

There are 2 vaccines to help prevent HPV infections, so they should help prevent the cancers caused by HPV. But most adults have already been infected with HPV, and the vaccines have not been proven to help people who already have HPV. Still, young people who are not yet sexually active should have a lower future cancer risk if they get one of the vaccines before they’re exposed to HPV. The American Cancer Society recommends them for girls aged 11 and 12, though they can be given to girls and boys as young as 9.

Early detection

To find cancer early, while it’s small and before it has spread, adults should have regular tests called screening exams. These tests help doctors find common cancers before they cause symptoms. Talk to your doctor about which screening tests might be right for you. If cancer is found early, it can be easier to treat. Survival also tends to be longer for those with early cancer.

You can learn more about things you can do to look for cancer in our document, American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer.

source:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/questions-people-ask-about-cancer

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.