Cancer – What Causes It and How to Prevent It
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body start growing and multiplying out of control. Cells are the building blocks of tissues and organs. Normally, as old cells die or become damaged, other cells replace them to maintain our health and keep us alive. Cancer develops when some of these cells begin to grow out of control and form masses of tissue called tumors. Cancer can occur in almost any part of the body. It may be grouped into different types depending on where it starts and what kind of cells it begins in (such as skin, breast or lung cancers).
Scientists aren’t sure what causes some people to get cancer and others don’t. But they know that many things, like age, family history and lifestyle choices, can raise or lower a person’s risk.
Everyone has a certain amount of cancer-causing DNA in their bodies. Cancer develops when this DNA makes mistakes that affect the way a person’s cells grow and divide. The mistakes are sometimes “mutations.” These mutations can cause cells that should die to survive and make more cells when they’re not needed. These extra cells may form tumors or spread to other parts of the body.
There are over 100 types of cancer, but they all have some things in common. For example, they all start in cells. Cancers that start in different parts of the body are grouped together by the kind of cells they begin in, such as skin cancers (basal or squamous cell carcinomas) or blood cancers (leukemia).
Cells that grow and reproduce out of control can become invasive and invade nearby areas. They may also evade the body’s immune system, which normally eliminates damaged or abnormal cells. They can also trick the body into helping them stay alive and growing by telling cells to grow into blood vessels that supply them with oxygen and nutrients and that remove waste products from the cancer cells.
Scientists are continuing to research ways to prevent cancer and improve treatment. Some examples include removing the cells that produce hormones that fuel some cancers and using bone marrow transplant to repair diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells, a common treatment for leukemia. Healthy eating patterns also help reduce cancer risk. This includes eating lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy and limiting alcohol, added sugars, saturated fat and excess sodium.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body start growing and multiplying out of control. Cells are the building blocks of tissues and organs. Normally, as old cells die or become damaged, other cells replace them to maintain our health and keep us alive. Cancer develops when some of these cells begin to grow out of control and form masses of tissue called tumors. Cancer can occur in almost any part of the body. It may be grouped into different types depending on where it starts and what kind of cells it begins in (such as skin, breast or lung cancers). Scientists aren’t sure what causes some people to get cancer and others don’t. But they know that many things, like age, family history and lifestyle choices, can raise or lower a person’s risk. Everyone has a certain amount of cancer-causing DNA in their bodies. Cancer develops when this DNA makes mistakes that affect the way a person’s cells grow and divide. The mistakes are sometimes “mutations.” These mutations can cause cells that should die to survive and make more cells when they’re not needed. These extra cells may form tumors or spread to other parts of the body. There are over 100 types of cancer, but they all have some things in common. For example, they all start in cells. Cancers that start in different parts of the body are grouped together by the kind of cells they begin in, such as skin cancers (basal or squamous cell carcinomas) or blood cancers (leukemia). Cells that grow and reproduce out of control can become invasive and invade nearby areas. They may also evade the body’s immune system, which normally eliminates damaged or abnormal cells. They can also trick the body into helping them stay alive and growing by telling cells to grow into blood vessels that supply them with oxygen and nutrients and that remove waste products from the cancer cells. Scientists are continuing to research ways to prevent cancer and improve treatment. Some examples include removing the cells that produce hormones that fuel some cancers and using bone marrow transplant to repair diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells, a common treatment for leukemia. Healthy eating patterns also help reduce cancer risk. This includes eating lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy and limiting alcohol, added sugars, saturated fat and excess sodium.