What Causes Cancer and How to Prevent It

Cancer

Cancer is a disease that develops when a person’s cells lose their ability to control growth and division. These out-of-control cells can form mass tissue growths called tumors, or they may spread through the blood and lymph systems to other parts of the body. Cancer is a complex disease with many different causes.

There are more than 100 types of cancer, depending on the type of cell where it starts and the tissues it affects. Cancers are named for the part of the body where they begin, such as breast cancer and lung cancer. There are also cancers that start in the blood and other types that grow from skin cells.

Cells usually grow and divide to replace older cells that have died or become damaged, a process called normal cell turnover. But cancer cells ignore these signals and continue growing out of control, crowding out normal cells and forming abnormal tumors. Some cancers even break away from their original location and travel to other parts of the body, where they can continue growing and spread to new sites. This is known as metastasis.

Scientists are working hard to understand what causes cancer. For now, they know that genetic mutations play a role in about 5 percent to 10 percent of all cancers. People who inherit these mutations are at higher risk of developing the disease, but lifestyle and environmental factors also contribute to its development.

Most cancers are not preventable, but there are steps that you can take to lower your chances of getting them. For example, regular screening tests can detect some cancers in their early stages, when they are much easier to treat. And a healthy diet can help protect against some cancers by providing the nutrients you need to keep your cells healthy.

The good news is that there are now more effective treatments for most cancers than ever before. These include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments remove or destroy cancerous cells, stop them from spreading, and/or slow their growth. In addition, some cancers can be prevented by avoiding habits that increase your risk of them, such as smoking and excessive sun exposure.

Some cancers are easy to spot and treat at an early stage, but other cancers aren’t. For instance, ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until it has already spread to other organs. For this reason, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your family history and personal risk factors for cancer and to discuss routine screening tests with him or her.

You can also help prevent cancer by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity and staying at a healthy weight. Choose foods that are low in fat and added sugars, and include lots of vegetables and fruits. Limit processed meats, such as hot dogs and bacon, and eat lean proteins, such as poultry, fish and nuts. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.

Cancer is a disease that develops when a person’s cells lose their ability to control growth and division. These out-of-control cells can form mass tissue growths called tumors, or they may spread through the blood and lymph systems to other parts of the body. Cancer is a complex disease with many different causes. There are more than 100 types of cancer, depending on the type of cell where it starts and the tissues it affects. Cancers are named for the part of the body where they begin, such as breast cancer and lung cancer. There are also cancers that start in the blood and other types that grow from skin cells. Cells usually grow and divide to replace older cells that have died or become damaged, a process called normal cell turnover. But cancer cells ignore these signals and continue growing out of control, crowding out normal cells and forming abnormal tumors. Some cancers even break away from their original location and travel to other parts of the body, where they can continue growing and spread to new sites. This is known as metastasis. Scientists are working hard to understand what causes cancer. For now, they know that genetic mutations play a role in about 5 percent to 10 percent of all cancers. People who inherit these mutations are at higher risk of developing the disease, but lifestyle and environmental factors also contribute to its development. Most cancers are not preventable, but there are steps that you can take to lower your chances of getting them. For example, regular screening tests can detect some cancers in their early stages, when they are much easier to treat. And a healthy diet can help protect against some cancers by providing the nutrients you need to keep your cells healthy. The good news is that there are now more effective treatments for most cancers than ever before. These include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments remove or destroy cancerous cells, stop them from spreading, and/or slow their growth. In addition, some cancers can be prevented by avoiding habits that increase your risk of them, such as smoking and excessive sun exposure. Some cancers are easy to spot and treat at an early stage, but other cancers aren’t. For instance, ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until it has already spread to other organs. For this reason, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your family history and personal risk factors for cancer and to discuss routine screening tests with him or her. You can also help prevent cancer by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity and staying at a healthy weight. Choose foods that are low in fat and added sugars, and include lots of vegetables and fruits. Limit processed meats, such as hot dogs and bacon, and eat lean proteins, such as poultry, fish and nuts. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.