Cancer
What exactly is cancer?
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer can spread its abnormal cells throughout your body. Being diagnosed with cancer can be frightening. But understanding what's going on inside your body can help you be aware of what's causing your feelings of anxiety. Knowing more about cancer may also help you feel more in control of your disease.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is caused by damage (mutations) in DNA. DNA is like a set of instructions for your cells, telling them how to grow and divide. When a mutation occurs in your DNA, normal cells will repair the mutation or simply die. In cancer, your cells continue living with this mutation. As a result, they grow and divide in chaotic fashion.
Mutations in DNA can be caused by:
Lifestyle habits
Certain lifestyle choices are known to cause cancer. Smoking, drinking more than one drink a day (for women) or two drinks a day (for men), being overweight, damage to skin unprotected by sunscreen, and unsafe sexual behaviors can lead to the mutations that cause cancer. You can break these habits to lower your risk of cancer — though some habits are easier to break than others.
Environment
The environment around you may contain harmful chemicals that can cause mutations in your genes. Even if you don't smoke, you might breathe secondhand smoke if you go places where people are smoking or you live with someone who smokes. Chemicals in your home or work environment, such as asbestos and benzene, can also cause cancer.
Family history
Some mutations in DNA can be traced back to your parents. If cancer is common in the family, it's possible that mutations are being passed from one generation to the next. You might be a candidate for genetic screening to see whether you have mutations that might increase your risk of cancer. Keep in mind that having an inherited genetic mutation doesn't necessarily mean you'll get cancer.
Chronic conditions
Some chronic health conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, can develop into cancer. Talk to a doctor about risks.
Much is still unknown about cancer. Some people with many risk factors don't develop cancer, and some people with no apparent risk factors develop cancer nonetheless.
More Information:
Cancer Council Australia
Information on latest research, articles and prevention.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
The National Breast Cancer Foundation raises funding for research into Breast Cancer.
Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Cure Cancer Australia raises funds to sponsor research into finding a cure for cancer.