things that cause cancer

Cancer is a group of complex disease with many possible causes. Some of the trigger factor is genetic factors, lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity, some types of infections, and exposure to various types of chemicals and radiation environment of our daily lives. Let us identify the cancer-promoting factors one by one:


Cancer-causing substances (carcinogens)

Carcinogens are substances that can trigger cancer. Carcinogens are substances, which are directly responsible for DNA damage, promote or assist cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and the compounds in car exhaust fumes are examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed to try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally. Tobacco smoke also is a kind of powerful carcinogens. But not everyone who smokes will develop lung cancer. So there must be other factors that trigger it.

Cancer Genes and Heredity Factor

Cancer is a common disease is therefore not surprising that many families have at least some members who have had cancer. Sometimes, certain types of cancer in a family seems to be decreasing. This can be caused by a number of factors. Often, family members have the same specific risk factors, which can cause various types of cancer. For example, smokers alike. However, in some cases, cancer is caused by abnormal genes inherited from generation to generation. While this is often called hereditary cancer, is actually derived abnormal gene that can cause cancer, not cancer itself. DNA, genes, chromosomes and cancer is a disease of abnormal gene function.

Age factor 

Most types of cancer become more common with age. This happens because of some change that makes normal cells take longer to develop into cancer. There should be some changes in the gene in the cells first, before the cells turn into cancer cells. These changes can occur by chance during cell division. Or it could also occur because the cells have been damaged by carcinogens and the damage is then forwarded to the next cell during cell division. The longer we live, the more time there, the greater the likelihood of genetic errors in our cells.

The immune system 

People who have problems with their immune systems are more likely to suffer from several types of cancer. This group includes:

•  People who have organ transplants and take drugs to suppress their immune systems to stop organ rejection. 
•  People who have HIV or AIDS, 
•  Those who are born with a rare medical syndrome that affects their immune. 
• The types of cancer that affects groups of people is divided into two: 
•  Cancer is caused by a virus, such as cervical cancer and other cancers of the genital or anal area, some lymphomas, liver cancer and stomach cancer, 
•  Lymphoma 

Chronic infection or organ transplantation can continually stimulate cells to divide. Cell division is constant means that the immune cells are more likely to develop genetic errors and develop into lymphoma.

Smoking, weight, diet and physical activity

A study funded by Cancer Research UK estimates that one third of cancer cases in the UK linked to smoking, diet, alcohol, or being overweight. In the western world, many of us eat too much red meat is processed and the lack of fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. Diet is also known to increase cancer risk. Drinking alcohol can also increase the risk of some cancers.
Sometimes food or food additive blamed for causing the cancer directly and described as carcinogenic. This is often not entirely true. Sometimes foods found to contain substances that can cause cancer, but in small quantities, it never hurts to eat the origin is not very often.