Cancer is a genetic disease, which means that the disease is caused by changes in our genes. These changes can be caused by environmental factors, can be familial, or can be passed down from parents, and the changes mutate DNA so that cells do not divide in a normal fashion.
Normally, cells in the body divide and reproduce regularly to keep our body functioning properly. Sometimes though, cells reproduce uncontrollably or do not die when needed. These cells, which we call cancer cells, build up and form tumors, which are solid masses of tissue. Tumors are aided by cancer cells and can be malignant or benign. If the tumor is malignant, then it spreads to and invades nearby tissues. Benign tumors do not spread but are usually very large.
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This form of cancer transmission is considered environmental, which includes everything outside of the body that interacts with it and the lifestyle of the individual. Environmental causes of cancer make up about two-thirds of all cancer cases. Of the major cases of cancer, 20-30% are linked to obesity and physical inactivity (NIEHS, 2003). Other major lifestyle choices that can cause cancer include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, excessive sunlight exposure, and sexual behavior that increases exposure to certain viruses. Environmental factors that contribute to cancer also include exposure to certain medical drugs, hormones, radiation, viruses, bacteria, and chemicals that can be found in air, water, food, and workplace.
The effect that environmental factors have on cancer can be seen throughout the world, in that different environmental factors can cause different types of cancer, which is seen in the types of cancer people of a particular area contract. Therefore, cancer rates and types vary by country. Environmental causes can also be linked to familial contraction of cancer. A person who inherits genes that will not be able to fight off an environmental carcinogen as easily as someone who does not have those inherited genes is more likely to get
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Make sure you get immunized for Hepatitis B and HPV. Get regular medical care such as keeping up on vaccinations and getting regular check ups. Using tobacco in general increases the risk for cancer, whether it is smoking or chewing tobacco. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk for lung cancer in nonsmokers. Avoiding tobacco is one of the most important decisions about health a person can make and is also an important part of preventing
Cancer can be caused by many factors. Some of these factors include: Genetics, Tobacco, Diet, Physical Activity, Sun Exposure, Radiation, and Other Carcinogens. Some types of cancer run in certain families, but most cancers are not clearly linked to the genes we inherit from our parents. Most people are unaware about just how much tobacco use accounts for of cancer related deaths. Even though cigarette use has decreased significantly there are still tobacco products that are highly popular. Vape pens, or electronic cigarettes are on the rise among former smokers and teenagers. Although believed to be healthier there is still nicotine, and unknown substances in the flavored liquid. Many people are also very unprepared when it comes to being outside for prolonged periods of time. Sunscreen is a necessity in order to protect oneself from the harmful UV rays. It is also very important to have regular checkups from a
Cancer is defined as a disease caused by an uncontrollable division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Cancer can be caused by many variables in one’s environment and the variables that are more likely to cause cancer are often referred to carcinogens. Carcinogens are harmful factors that can increase one’s chance of developing a form of cancer. Carcinogens can be anything from ultra violet rays to dust particles from wood; tobacco is one of the most well-known carcinogens because it increases one’s chances of developing lung cancer by a stagger amount. The reason tobacco has the ability to make such an impact is because tobacco contains more than 70 carcinogens altogether. When it comes down to it, the carcinogens are all working together
“Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumor”.(‘What is cancer?”) A tumor is the swelling of a part of the body, generally without inflammation, caused by an abnormal growth of tissue, whether benign or malignant. Benign, if the cells are benign they are not cancerous. It won't invade nearby tissues or spread to other areas of the body. Also, some types of benign tumors such as intestinal polyps are considered precancerous and are removed to prevent them becoming
Cells are constantly getting instructions from chromosomes to divide. Cancer forms when cells get instructions incorrectly and begin dividing too much and cells do not get a message to stop making cells so they continue to divide. When cells grow out of control, a tumor forms. A tumor that is malignant does spread.
While there are several biological factors that have the ability to lead to cancer, genetics is the most currently researched. A study done by Bharaj, Scorilas, Giai and
Lung cancer is a genetic and acquired disease. Lung cancer is genetic because cancer in general is caused by changes to the genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. All of these changes include mutations in the DNA that makes up our genes. Genetic changes that increase cancer risk can be inherited from our parents, if the changes are presents in germ cells. Which are the reproductive cells of the body, those are the eggs and the sperm. Lung cancer is also acquired because as the result of errors that occur as cells divide a person’s lifetime or exposure to certain chemicals. Some examples of these chemicals are found in tobacco smoke, radiation, UV rays from the sun that damage DNA. “In general, cancer cells have more genetic changes than normal cells. But each person’s cancer has a unique combination of genetic alterations.” Some of these changes may be the result of cancer, rather than the cause. As the cancer continues to grow, additional changes will occur. Even within the same tumor, cancer cells may have different genetic changes.
Genetics and other factors that are not in a person's control play a role in whether or not a person develops oral cancer. Factors like age, gender, race/ethnicity and family history are big contributors. Most people who get oral cancer are over the age of 40. Although younger people are increasingly more at risk due to the H.P.V. virus. ("Oral Cancer Facts") Gender can influence the risk of cancer as well. Men have a 1 in 84 chance of developing oral cancer in their lifetime, whereas women have a 1 in 160 chance. ("Facts And Figures") When it comes to race and ethnicity, oral cancer is twice as common in the African-American population than in the caucasian community. Even though genetics can be a factor in determining the risk of cancer, environmental factors are a bigger part of the risk.
There are many ways that you can get cancer. You can get cancer from smoking, sunlight, your diet, mold, viruses, and inheritance. Out of those factors, the most common cause of cancer today is smoking. All cancers are genetic because they are caused by the mutations that happen to the gene. Some common cancers that are
the environment causes cancer but they do claim it can contribute to developing cancer if
Cancer is caused by external and internal factors, such as tobacco, infectious organisms ,inherited genetic mutations ,immune conditions and hormones(4) . Many chemical material plays important roles in inducing cancers like diethylnitrosamine(DEN) which is present in some food products such as soybean, fish, cheese ,alcoholic beverages and cured meat and it is effective genotoxic carcinogen and used as an initiating
Cancer is characterized by the un-restrained growth of abnormal cells. The cancer diseaseis caused by external and internal factors. External factors include tobacco, chemicals, radiation and infectious organisms whereas the internal factors include hormones, inherited mutations, immune conditions as well as mutations that are caused by metabolism. These factors possibly act together to instigate or even promote the maturity of
Heredity also plays a role in the development of cancer. If a person’s relatives have a history of cancer, then that person has a higher risk of developing cancer. Genetic variations, particularly those influencing how the body responds to carcinogens, may create a greater vulnerability to cancer.
Another way of getting cancer is from air pollution. The risk of getting lung cancer is present if you live in a big city like New
If you were to look for risk factors in cancer, you will find a lot of things such as personal history. Family history also plays a role (if a family member or an ancestor has had cancer, the risk that you will have cancer is higher). The environment and personal health also plays a role. For example, if you are smoking or exposed
It was one thought that lung cancer was strictly caused by lifestyle choices, but over the past years, it has been shown that lifestyle isn’t the thing that can potentially allow one to contract lung cancer. The environment along with tobacco use and genetics can also play a role in contracting lung cancer. In an industrial world, pollution has been a reoccurring problem. With emissions from vehicles and industrial power plants, air pollution and/or smog has been hovering over us. In places like China who are thriving in the industrial world, are being greatly affected by air pollution. According to Brody, “In Asia, lung cancer is alarmingly