Causes of cancer at a glance: Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of one rouge cell. The causes of cancer include at least three mechanisms – the loss of stop signals or the failure of the body to remove damaged cells, or viruses. The most common risk factors for cancer include genetics, smoking and UV radiation.
The causes of cancer – loss of stop signals
One of the causes of cancer involves the loss of stop signals. We start our life from a single cell. It divides and develops into various tissues and organs. When the tissues and organs reach a certain size and shape they stop growing. There are many signals that tell a cell to stop growing. When something goes wrong with these ‘stop signals’ the cell continue to grow and causes cancer.
Cancer is the result of one rogue cell
The causes of cancer – failure to remove faulty cells
The body is always in a state of maintenance mode in which faulty cells are constantly removed and replaced by new healthy cells. This is called cell turnover. Sometimes the body may lose its ability to remove the faulty cells. As a result, the faulty cell starts to grow uncontrollably and causes cancer.
The causes of cancer – viruses
Viruses can also cause cancer, for example, the human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer. They are also called oncoviruses. Onco refers to cancer. Oncoviruses integrate their DNA or RNA (genetic material) with their host genes (our genes). As a result, the cell that has integrated the genetic material of the virus starts to grow uncontrollably and causes cancer.
The causes of cancer – risk factors
Each cancer has its own set of risk factors. What does risk factor mean? It means if you are exposed to any of those factors, your chances of developing cancer are higher than those who are not exposed to those factors. It does not mean you will definitely develop cancer. The common risk factors that can cause cancer include genetic make-up, family history, tobacco smoking (for example lung cancer), excessive alcohol consumption (many cancer), viral infections (cervical cancer), occupational exposure (mesothelioma from asbestos) and ultraviolet radiations (skin cancers).
The causes of cancer – loss of stop signals
One of the causes of cancer involves the loss of stop signals. We start our life from a single cell. It divides and develops into various tissues and organs. When the tissues and organs reach a certain size and shape they stop growing. There are many signals that tell a cell to stop growing. When something goes wrong with these ‘stop signals’ the cell continue to grow and causes cancer.
Cancer is the result of one rogue cell
The causes of cancer – failure to remove faulty cells
The body is always in a state of maintenance mode in which faulty cells are constantly removed and replaced by new healthy cells. This is called cell turnover. Sometimes the body may lose its ability to remove the faulty cells. As a result, the faulty cell starts to grow uncontrollably and causes cancer.
The causes of cancer – viruses
Viruses can also cause cancer, for example, the human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer. They are also called oncoviruses. Onco refers to cancer. Oncoviruses integrate their DNA or RNA (genetic material) with their host genes (our genes). As a result, the cell that has integrated the genetic material of the virus starts to grow uncontrollably and causes cancer.
The causes of cancer – risk factors
Each cancer has its own set of risk factors. What does risk factor mean? It means if you are exposed to any of those factors, your chances of developing cancer are higher than those who are not exposed to those factors. It does not mean you will definitely develop cancer. The common risk factors that can cause cancer include genetic make-up, family history, tobacco smoking (for example lung cancer), excessive alcohol consumption (many cancer), viral infections (cervical cancer), occupational exposure (mesothelioma from asbestos) and ultraviolet radiations (skin cancers).
No comments:
Post a Comment