Introduction:
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases in humans but is believed to be preventable.
Only about five to ten percent of cancers are due to genetic defects, the remaining ninety-five percent are due to lifestyle factors and the environment. The lifestyle factors include smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, unhealthy diet, pollutants, stress, obesity, lack of exercise, and infections. The majority of cancer-related deaths are due to diet (30 % to 35 %), tobacco use and smoking (25 % to 30 %), infections (15 % to 20 %), and the remaining percentage are due to other factors mentioned above. Thus, cancer can be prevented by altering the lifestyle choices such as smoking cessation, limiting alcohol use, caloric restrictions and switching to a healthy diet, exercising, vaccinations, and regular checkups.
Human Biology and Cancer:
Human biology is very complicated. We all talk about genes and their impact on our lives. But in reality, genes have very little impact on the outcomes. Our lifestyle choices decide our health and well-being. Genes are not in our control but the choices we make are! Genes can update us and warn us about the increased risk of particular diseases, but they do not determine the actual cause.
What Are the Causative Factors Leading to Cancer?
Cancer is a worldwide killer that accounts for nearly ten million deaths each year. It is the second most cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
It is caused by:
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Internal factors such as immune conditions inherited mutations and hormones.
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External factors such as smoking cigarettes, tobacco, and alcohol use, diet, radiation, and infectious organisms.
The link between lifestyle and cancer is strongly associated. Many factors such as personal choices and lifestyle influence cancer risk. We have control over exposure to these factors thus we have the power to minimize the effect and maximize the chances of living a long and healthy life.
What Lifestyle Factors Cause Cancer?
Tobacco: Tobacco causes cancer almost everywhere in the body and is the leading cause of different kinds of cancer such as lung cancers, oral cancers, cancers of the throat, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, bladder, etc. In 1960, smoking was identified as a leading cause of lung cancer. Since then, efforts are continuously made to reduce tobacco use. Smoking tobacco in the form of cigarettes and cigars causes nine out of ten deaths. Tobacco has almost seventy chemicals that can cause cancer.
Every time you breathe in smoke, the chemicals travel into the bloodstream and ultimately to all the organs and tissues. Many of these chemicals damage your deoxyribonucleic acid. Damaged deoxyribonucleic acid makes cells grow differently. These unusual cells lead to cancer. People who smoke are not the only ones who get cancer from it. People around them (kids, families, friends, etc) also inhale that smoke and are prone to cancer. This is called secondhand smoke or passive smoking.
The most important decision one can make to avoid cancer from tobacco is,
If you do not use tobacco - never start it.
If you use tobacco - it is the right time to quit it.
Alcohol: Alcohol misuse is one of the most preventable factors along with tobacco use accounting for around ten percent of all cancer cases. Alcohol use raises the risk of oral, throat, larynx, oesophageal, and stomach cancers. Drinking and smoking altogether raise the risk many times as compared to doing them alone. Long-term alcohol use has a strong association with liver, colon, and rectal cancer. Regular alcohol consumption minimizes the body's ability to absorb nutrients that are particularly useful to fight cancer.
Diet: High fat, high protein, and low fiber diet (red or processed meat, refined carbohydrates, etc ) may increase the risk of developing certain cancers such as lung, colon, rectal prostate, and others. The food choices that we make play a decisive role in determining the risk factors.
A diet rich in whole grains, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein is useful in minimizing the risk of cancers.
Obesity: Being overweight or having an abnormally high body fat percentage can be a contributing factor to the development of cancer. In some cases, obesity decreases the natural defense capabilities of humans and can contribute to cancer development.
Environmental Pollutants: Both indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants are linked to various cancers. Outdoor air pollution by carbon particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and indoor pollution by smokes, volatile compounds, food additives, pesticides, dioxins, pharmaceutical medicines, etc have contributed largely to the occurrence of cancer.
Outdoor pollutants increase the risk of lung cancers whereas indoor pollutants are associated with an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma (in children), and brain tumors (in adults).
What Are the Ways to Prevent Cancer?
It has been found that the majority of factors leading to the development of cancers are preventable and are related to lifestyle.
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Tobacco, diet, infection, obesity, etc are found to be the contributing factors in the majority of cancers, it is quite clear how to prevent cancer. Lung cancer and its association with cigarette smoking are well known. One can quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. This will have a major effect on cancer prevention.
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Viral and bacterial infection is another determinant cause of cancer. Proper immunization and scheduled vaccinations can help people to prevent cervical and other cancers.
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Diet, obesity, and environmental factors can be taken care of. One can make healthy choices, focus on regular exercise and contribute to a green and clean environment thereby limiting the causative factors. Modifying diet can help in reducing the risk of cancers to a greater extent.
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Carotenoids, spices, etc are very helpful as they have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. The anticarcinogenic properties of lycopene have been successfully demonstrated.
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Physical fitness should be maintained. Exercise should be made a part of daily routine. Physical inactivity is associated with an increased risk of breast, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancers. Thus for a healthy life, exercise regularly.
Conclusion:
Cancer is a deadly disease and the most contributing factors to it are related to lifestyle. Factors such as diet, exercise, nutrition, alcohol, and tobacco use, sleep, and overall well-being should be taken care of. We are the ones who can work upon the following measures and prevent the emergence of such a disease. Reducing exposure to carcinogens, adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising, etc are the key to preventing it. Be an inspiration for others and motivate them to join the healthy path and fight the disease.