Causes of Cancer and Risk Factors

  • Cancer
    Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by out-of-control cell growth. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The cancer is named after the area of the body or organ where it originates.
Submitted by Dr S. Patel on 15 October 2015

What causes cancer

There is no single cause of cancer. What affects a certain body tissue may not affect another. For example, tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer. Overexposure to sunlight can cause melanoma, but sun exposure won’t cause lung cancer and smoke won’t cause melanoma.

Here are some common triggers:

Genetics:Each cell in our body contains DNA, which controls its action. Any change or mutation to the DNA that damages the genes involved in cell division can lead to cancer. Cancer occurs when because of gene mutation, the cell is unable to correct DNA damage and unable to die.

Carcinogens: Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances that cause damage to the DNA of the cell. Tobacco, natural or man-made radiation, asbestos, some food and food additives are some of the carcinogens. For instance, the following foods and cooking methods have been linked to cancer: Barbecuing or grilling meat; charring and deep frying food; acrylamide in French fries and potato chips; microwave popcorn; artificial sweeteners and sodas; processed meat and fatty red meat; highly processed foods low in fibre.

Heredity: Cancer can be caused by genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. Childhood retinoblastoma is the most striking example of the role of heredity.

Immune system: People who have a problem with their immune system are more likely to get some types of cancer. For instance, people who have had organ transplant and taken drugs to suppress their immune system, HIV/AIDS patients or those born with rare medical syndromes that impair their immunity.

Viruses: Though few viruses are known to cause cancer, some viruses can cause genetic changes in the cell, making them more prone to cancer.

These cancers and viruses have been linked with each other.

  • Cervical cancer and human papilloma virus
  • Primary liver cancer and hepatitis B and C virus
  • Lymphomas and Epstein-Barr virus

Are you at risk of developing cancer

  • Are you above 65? People of all ages can get cancer but frequency of cancer increases with age. As people age, there are more cancer causing mutations in cell DNA.
  • Heredity: Do you have incidence of cancer in the family
  • Diet and lifestyle: Do you smoke, drink or have a diet made up of a lot of red meat or processed foods
  • Do you spend long hours in the sun or are exposed to workplace hazards, like chemicals or radiation
  • Are you overweight or obese? Obesity is linked to increased risk in 13 different cancers -
    • Adenocarcinoma of Oesophagus
    • Breast Cancer in post menopausal women
    • Colorectal Cancer
    • Gallbladder cancer
    • Gastric Cancer
    • Kidney Cancer
    • Liver Cancer
    • Meningioma - a usually benign brain tumour
    • Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer
    • Ovarian Cancer
    • Pancreatic Cancer
    • Thyroid Cancer
    • Uterine Cancer

The update on Obesity and 13 cancers is based on the review published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2016.

Community
Cancer
Condition
Cancer
Changed
Thu, 01/03/2019 - 14:06

Stories

  • Cancer Survival Predictors and Importance of Screening
    "Early stage diagnosis and Screening affect survival rates in top 3 cancers" Preet K. Dhillon, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist, Senior Scientific Officer, Public Health Foundation of India in her interview with PatientsEngage Which cancers are easy to detect at an early stage ? What is their contribution to the total number of cancer malignancies? At what rate is this growing? Of the most commonly occurring cancers in India, breast, cervix, oral and colorectal cancers are amenable…
  • How to be a Cancer Thriver Video
    While the global cancer statistics are deadly and chilling, it is easy to forget that the thousands of people around the world, who have not only 'survived' but actually become 'cancer-thrivers'. These rare folks have turned a traumatic experience into a springboard for their personal growth. Their stories are not only remarkable, but also remarkably similar, as Vijay Bhat (a Mumbai-based thriver and author of "My Cancer Is Me") shares in this video. Vijay's insights are based on his own…
  • Throat cancer patients can get back their voice for Rs. 50
    Head and neck cancer specialist Dr. Vishal Rao has recently invented the Aum Voice Prosthesis is to help throat cancer patients speak and eat properly after surgery. The device, especially pioneered for the poor, costs only INR 50 (<1 USD). An interview with Dr. Vishal Rao: Tell us about your brain child – Aum? The realization of not being able to speak, first dawned on me, when I had a throat cancer patient from a village visit my clinic. He had already been …
  • Palliative care in Kerala - lessons and answers
    With a palliative care policy formulated in 2008, Kerala has become a path-breaker and a model for the rest of the country. Professor Devi Vijay of IIM Calcutta provides some insights into this community-based aspect of health care.  1. What can the rest of the country learn from the success of the Kerala palliative care story?How can other countries and communities leverage this community-based model?  There are several elements of the Kerala palliative care movement worth examining…
  • Care for the Caregiver
    Maya Ramachandran shares her experience as a caregiver to her parents and the learnings she drew from this. Caregiving is soul-satisfying, meaningful, draining and frustrating all at the same time. I had been a caregiver for my father for almost 16 years. My mother took charge from the forefront and I was with her, supporting her to the best of my ability through this period. However, for the last two years of my father’s life, I took on the role of ‘primary caregiver’, as my mother…
  • Cancer Awareness Walkathon 2016
    Don't just sit back and watch someone struggle with cancer. Join this walkathon or pledge your support Breast Cancer Survivor Rita Banik and the Race to Rein in Cancer team.  Theme: To reduce the Impact of cancer on Individuals, Families and Communities  Date :  Sunday, February 7,  2016 From :  Orlem Church, Malad (W)  to  Ijmima Complex, Malad (W)  Interested participants may register by 27th January  2016  At 345 Ijmima Complex, 3rd Floor,…
  • CANCER: A friend who warns or a foe with thorns!
    A poem by Rita Banik, Founder, RACE to rein-in-cancer The never uttered word CANCER  The word that fills our heart with grief  Turns our feet cold with fear The word that haunts and shatters … How long shall we go on fearing? How long shall we keep running away? The more we run, the faster it chases  The faster you erase the quicker it re-appears! Now cancer invokes anger in me The anger that returns  Every time someone is diagnosed   Every time cancer takes a life…
  • Management of Cancer
    Food and Nutrition Cancer and cancer treatments can be harsh on the body. Lack of appetite, weight loss and muscle wasting are common during cancer and treatment. Healthy food choices that are high in calories and proetins can boost cell growth, weight gain and improve recovery. Here are some tips for good nutrition: Eat small  and frequent snacks Eat every few hours Include lots of leafy greens and vegetables in the diet (but make sure they are washed and cooked properly to avoid…
  • Cancer Treatment
    The options depend on the type of cancer, how far it has spread, age, lifestyle and the health status of the patient. There is no single treatment for cancer and doctors often combine different types of treatment. Surgery Surgery is the oldest known method of treating cancer. Surgery is quite effective if the cancer has not spread or metastasised. Surgery is often combined with other forms of therapy, like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is generally used when the…
  • Causes of Cancer and Risk Factors
    What causes cancer There is no single cause of cancer. What affects a certain body tissue may not affect another. For example, tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer. Overexposure to sunlight can cause melanoma, but sun exposure won’t cause lung cancer and smoke won’t cause melanoma. Here are some common triggers: Genetics:Each cell in our body contains DNA, which controls its action. Any change or mutation to the DNA that damages the genes involved in cell division can lead to cancer. Cancer…