Cancer is a word that instills fear, doubt, and so many questions. The question most often asked may be: Why do we develop cancer? Although there is no simple answer, the truth is that cancer arises due to a combination of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors. Of these, our day-to-day lifestyle—what we consume, how much we exercise, whether we smoke, and what kind of stress we endure—is a massive determinant of our risk.
At Comprehensive Hematology Oncology, we think that patient education is important. The more we understand about lifestyle influence on cancer risk, the more knowledgeable we can be in making wise decisions on prevention and detecting it early. Let’s just go through how cancer develops and learn how lifestyle influences our risk.
What Is Cancer and How Does It Start
Cancer is not an illness but a collection of illnesses characterized by indefinite growth and pathological cell growth. The pathological cells invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to remote tissues or organs or lymph, or bloodstreams of the body.
Cells will usually grow and divide to produce new cells to replace old or damaged cells. However, if DNA in a cell is altered or damaged and not fixed, it leads to the formation of a tumor. Some mutations occur due to inherited mutations, whereas acquired mutations give rise to the majority of the mutations in our lifetime. The majority of these are due to lifestyle and environmental factors.
Genetic vs. Lifestyle Risk Factors
Genetic Predisposition
There are only a few cancers—5% to 10%—even brought on by inherited genetic mutation. For example, mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 have been found to increase the risk of ovarian as well as breast cancer. But even in the case of genetic susceptibility, cancer still isn’t inevitable; only its risk increases.
Lifestyle and Environmental Risks
The majority of cancers, hands down, fall within our doable domain. They are:
- Tobacco smoking and use
- Unhealthy eating or obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Exposure to carcinogens
- Infection
- Chronic stress
- Sleep patterns
The World Health Organization (WHO) informs us that one-third of cancers can be avoided through lifestyle changes. More of our lives are in our hands than we know.
Diet and Nutrition: You Are What You Eat
Food powers all processes in our body, including those that rebuild DNA, destroy damaged cells, and regulate inflammation. Poor nutrition can undermine these processes and even raise cancer risk.
Foods that raise cancer risk
- Processed meat (e.g., bacon, hot dogs, sausages) contains additives and chemicals that are associated with colorectal cancer.
- Red meat, if eaten in excess, also raises cancer risk.
- Sweet drinks and sweets are an obesity risk factor, a cancer risk factor for the development of at least 13 cancers.
- Frying and charring emit cancer-forming chemicals such as heterocyclic amines and acrylamide.
Cancer-Protective Foods
- Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber that preserve cells intact.
- Grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts have anti-inflammatory chemicals.
- Broccoli, cabbage, and kale are part of the class of cruciferous vegetables with high liver-cleansing capacity.
- Green tea, turmeric, and garlic have all been found to exhibit anticancer activity in many studies.
Physical Activity: Get Your Body Moving, Protect Against Cancer
Physical activity is doing much more than regulating weight—it’s also reducing cancer in a very concrete manner. Physical activity can:
- Decrease insulin and some growth factors that feed cancer cells
- Improve immune function
- Quell inflammation
- Control hormones
- Assist with digestion and lower cancer risk of gastrointestinal cancer
The Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming.
Smoking and Alcohol: Two Preventable Risks
Smoking
Tobacco smoking is the preventable killer of more cancer cases worldwide than any other cancer-causing factor, and is responsible for approximately 22% of total cancers that kill. It’s not just lung cancer—smoking is responsible for mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix cancer.
Even secondhand exposure to smoke increases cancer risk, so quitting smoking is one of the best steps to protect your health and the health of others.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of liver, breast, colon, and esophageal cancer. Alcohol damages body tissue, limits nutrient absorption, and interferes with the liver’s ability to detoxify the body. Moderation—or, better yet, abstention—is the best route to reduce this risk.
Environmental and Occupational Exposures
Cancer is a result of poisons in the air we breathe, on our clothing we wear, or even where we work. Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals or pollutants also increases the risk of cancer.
Examples:
- Asbestos, with mesothelioma
- Benzene, in industrial fuel and solvents
- Pesticides and herbicides, typically sprayed on crops on farms
- Radon gas, radioactive, naturally occurring in homes
Reduction in exposure, e.g., by wearing protective gear and ventilatory improvement, can reduce hazards.
Chronic infection results in a higher risk for cancer
Certain bacterial and viral infections are linked to cancer because they result in chronic inflammation or immunosuppression or insert their genetic material into the host cells.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) → cervical, throat, and anal cancer
- Hepatitis B and C viruses → liver cancer
- Helicobacter pylori → stomach cancer
- Epstein-Barr virus → certain lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Early detection, early treatment, and early vaccination are all good types of cancer prevention.
Stress, Sleep, and Mental Health
Chronic stress is less visible but can weaken the immune system, raise inflammation, and solidify unhealthy lifestyle patterns such as smoking or eating too much, both of which raise cancer risk.
Likewise, non-standard sleep timing, shift work, or non-standard sleep timing can disrupt the body’s internal clock as well as hormonal cycles and can cause a higher risk of cancer. Mental health, healthy sleeping habits, and sleep are the magic words for a healthy, long-term, good life.
Early Detection and Screening Save Lives
Though prevention is always best, early detection stands as the second-best assurance. Most cancers become curable with early detection. For this reason, appropriate screening tests like
- Mammograms
- Colonoscopies
- Pap smears
- PSA tests (cancer of the prostate)
Comprehensive Hematology Oncology promotes preventive medicine and partners with patients regarding risk factor control, arranging adequate screenings, and crafting individual treatment plans as needed.
Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Impact
While we can’t change our genes, we can change our behavior. With mindful decisions every day—nutritionally eating, exercising regularly, refraining from toxic exposures, and going to checkup clinics on a regular basis—we can significantly reduce our chances of getting cancer.
Cancer cannot always be prevented, but in most instances, it can be cured and defeated in the majority. Knowledge precedes action. We are not merely here at Comprehensive Hematology Oncology to love on you but to educate and prevent as well. Need expert guidance? Call Comprehensive Hematology Oncology for personalized cancer care in West Bradenton, FL.