What is the cause of cancer?

Answer 1

Cancer is a process (carcinogenesis) that results from progressive changes in the functioning of the genome (genomic instability). Therefore, anything that contributes to genomic instability can 'cause' cancer.

Known factors that cause genomic instability and therefore contribute to cancer include:

1) Ionizing radiation (X-rays and gamma-rays)
2) Ultraviolet radiation
3) Oxidative stress
4) Chemicals
5) Chronic inflammation
6) Chronic infections (bacterial, viral, parasites)
7) Heavy metal toxicities (cadmium, mercury,
arsenic, etc.)
8) Hormonal imbalances
9) Detoxification imbalances
10) Common vitamin and mineral deficiencies
11) Spontaneous DNA damage
12) Replication errors (when DNA duplicates
itself for cell division)

Hope this is helpful. Best wishes.

Answer 2

I am not a medical person, but I am old and read a lot. I have heard some doctors talk about the fact that once a person has cancer that it means that their immune system has failed them. We are suppose to eat lots of fruit and vegetables every day to give our immune system the things that it needs to fight pre-cancerous growths. Stress is not good for us and can weaken our immune system.

Sometimes a predisposition to cancer runs in families. There are things like smoking and some types of air pollution that cause lung cancer. Too much sun can cause skin cancer. The older we get the higher the chances of getting some kinds of cancer. That is because it becomes harder for our bodies to recover from the events of living that breakdown our bodies. Normally our bodies heal themselves every night when we sleep. So good nutrition, a good night’s sleep, fresh air, exercise, and supportive family and friends all help to keep us healthy.

Answer 3

Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis. Metastasis is defined as the stage in which cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk tends to increase with age, due to the fact that DNA damage becomes more apparent in aging DNA. It is one of the principal causes of death in developed countries.

There are many types of cancer. Severity of symptoms depends on the site and character of the malignancy and whether there is metastasis. A definitive diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of tissue by a pathologist. This tissue is obtained by biopsy or surgery. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for the type of cancer pathology. Drugs that target specific cancers already exist for several cancers. If untreated, cancers may eventually cause illness and death, though this is not always the case.

Origins of cancer
Cell division or cell proliferation is a physiological process that occurs in almost all tissues and under many circumstances. Normally the balance between proliferation and programmed cell death is tightly regulated to ensure the integrity of organs and tissues. Mutations in DNA that lead to cancer disrupt these orderly processes.

The uncontrolled and often rapid proliferation of cells can lead to either a benign tumor or a malignant tumor (cancer). Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body or invade other tissues, and they are rarely a threat to life unless they extrinsically compress vital structures. Malignant tumors can invade other organs, spread to distant locations (metastasize) and become life-threatening.


It can be treated succussfuly if the disease iis in earliy stage and in advance stages all the three aailbale treatments Surgery of tumors or affected portion, Chemo and radiation are to be given. W@e can not take a chance as CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA.

Best Wishes

Answer 4

A lot of cancer is inherited and genetic. I think our environment is 99% responsible for the cancers we get. The things we eat, the clothing we wear, the air we breath especially on the freeway behind the greyhound bus, the cleaning products we use, the air fresheners(Fabreeze), the medicines we so readily take, before we give our own bodies time to heal themselves, the deodorants and antiperspirants we use to clog our pores and keep us from smelling and sweating. I could go on and on. You get the idea.

Answer 5

cervical cancer is caused by a virus called hpv

Answer 6

unfortunetly there is no one cause for cancer , and really noone knows why one person may get it and not another .

Answer 7

cell that divide abnormally