Why do people argue that cancer is a genetic illness, when rates of most cancers are much lower in some areas?

Question

Meditteranean, Middle East, Japan, China, South America, etc.

Answer 1

You are confusing 'genetic' with 'hereditary'. Cancer is a process of genetic change that results in loss of normal growth controls that regulate cell replication. In most cases, this genetic change occurs 'late' in life and is not the result of the 'genetic makeup' that you are born with.

Answer 2

There are some cancers which are somewhat genetic in nature but I believe that the majority of cancers are caused environmentally. So the people who argue that cancer is a genetic illness are probably 1/4 correct.

Answer 3

Cancer can be genetic but it can also be caused by other things, carcinogens.. smoking-lung cancer etc...Second hand smoke is a really big cause.

I grew up with a young man who was in a motorcycle accident. He badly injured a leg. A few years later the Dr said the trauma started the cancer in his leg that ended up taking his life.

Ignorance/ no knowledge is my answer. And think about the areas that has such a high rate of cancer due to the waste in their landfills etc. That gets into the ground and then the drinking water etc. That would be one example of high rate per locale.

Answer 4

Cancer is, like most disorders/conditions/illnesses due partly to genetic causes and partly to the environment in which one lives. If you have a genetic predisposition to a certain type of cancer, you'll be more likely to suffer from it - but only if the environmental conditions are ripe for it.

Answer 5

There is no arguement that cancer can and often times is caused by environmental factors, there's no doubt about that. However, cancer very often times is also a genetic/chromosonal mutation. Environment isn't the only factor. Do your research. Dig deeper.