what causes cancer
Cancer, a condition resulting from abnormal cell division presents more than 100 types of cancer named after the organ or cell type from which they originate. Irregular splitting up of cells that afterward attacks various body tissues normally causes Cancer diseases. Cancer stretches to various body parts with time making the cancerous cells malignant. If not treated immediately after diagnosis, it can cause complicated illnesses that can cause death. The leading cause of deaths is cancer with almost two-thirds of it being caused by ecological factors. There are various environmental causes of cancer with the term environment referring to the external environment as well as the personal environment.
When determining what factors in the environmental cause cancer, various factors can be attributed to it. The causes of cancer can either be tied to the external or personal environment. The personal environment factors likely to cause the cancer include lifestyle preferences like tobacco and diet. Tobacco has been said to be the cause of about one third of deaths caused by cancer yearly. Ultra violet rays arising from sunlamps, the sun itself or tanning beds are known to cause various kinds of skin cancer like melanoma. The environmental causes of cancer arise from lifestyle factors and exposure to water or air agents. Some of the different environmental agents likely to cause cancer include occupational exposures, ionizing radiation, chemicals, medical drugs and even alcohol.
In the past years, epidemiologists have made estimates concerning the death rates and new cases of cancer that arise due to environmental agents. Tobacco is believed to cause over 30 percent cancer deaths. Air and water pollution, medical procedures and medicine cause other cancer cases. When determining what environmental factors cause cancer, remember that there are a number of environmental factors causing cancer. Ionizing radiation presents another environmental element that causes cancer. Being exposed to rays from sources such as cosmic rays, nuclear bomb tests, radon, X-rays, and atomic bombs also causes cancer.
Carcinogens are materials that increase the chances or risk of cancer. When determining what environmental factors cause cancer, consider environmental carcinogens. These carcinogens may make direct or indirect damages to the DNA and may cause cancer. This is a probable explanation as to why not every environmental exposure to carcinogens may cause cancer. The time span of the exposure and its intensity is also a determining factor of whether one will develop cancer. A number of known environmental carcinogens include chemical surfactants, water or air pollution, and various infectious agents like parasites, bacteria and viruses.
In general, major environmental causes of cancer are linked to the external and personal environment. The external environment elements causing cancer include environmental pollutants, radiation and sun exposure among others. An individual’s personal environment inclusive of lifestyle choices like tobacco, diet and nutrition are also a risk factor.