When there is out-of-control cell growth in the body, cancer can be caused. Over 100 types of cancer exist, and each of the cancers is classified in accordance to the cells that it affects initially. The cancer is aid to spread or cause harm to the body once the infected cells begin to disperse forming lumps or masses that are known are tumors. These tumors carry the potential to grow and become interfering with certain systems of the body, such as the nervous, circulatory and digestive systems. The cancer is said to be benign when the tumor stays in one place and has limited growth.
There are many possible causes of cancer. A lot of these causes we are aware of. But, some causes of cancer may come as an enormous surprise to most of you. A lot of research has gone into unveiling the causes of cancer and every time more and more surprising results are deduced. This article is dedicated to some of the most startlingly astounding causes of cancer.
Obesity has been linked to a number of heart conditions and other diseases. One thing that was not so known about obesity is its link with certain types of cancer. Recent researches now show that a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are responsible for about one-fourth or maybe one-third of the common cancers parading in America. Other than being a risk factor for cancer, obesity can also make prognosis for cancer patients challenging and have a detrimental impact on the quality of life cancer survivors may lead. Obesity is linked to an increase in risk of a number of cancers, including kidney, esophagus, breasts, thyroid, colon, pancreas, endometrium and gall bladder cancers.
UV rays most profoundly occur in the exposure to sunlight, tanning booths and sunlamps. These rays can be a cause of cancer as they promote the early ageing of the skin, damaging the skin surprisingly to the extent of causing cancer!
Most doctors advise individuals to stay under cover from midday sun, as during that portion of the day the sun generates the strongest intensity of the UV rays. In order to stay prevented from the UV rays as much as possible, take measures to avoid the reflection of these rays as well. The UV rays can reflect off sand, water and ice, and penetrate through clothing, windows and transparent surfaces. Hence, it is important to avoid this cause of cancer. To do so, make sure to wear long sleeved clothing with full pants covering the legs, a hat, sunglasses, and use sun block during sunny days in order to stay as protected from UV radiation as possible.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that cell phone usage may contribute to the development of cancer due to radiofrequency that is emitted by cell phones. The usage of cell phones have been termed as a ‘carcinogenic hazard’. In order to protect yourself to the maximum, it is advised to limit cell phone conversation whenever possible and to use a hands-free device to create a distance from your head and the cell phone.
The consumption of tobacco is one of the most common causes of death, and yet the most preventable one as well. Statistics show that over 180,000 people die at the hands of cancer caused by tobacco usage in America each year. Individuals who smoke are at a much higher risk of developing cancer than non-smokers. The surprising bit here is that even though tobacco is known to be one of the most recognizable causes of cancer, it is usually associated with throat cancer alone. The truth is tobacco can be a risk factor to a host of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, lungs, bladder, stomach, kidney, throat, esophagus, cervix, pancreas and larynx, as well as leukemia.
Quitting is the first step towards decreasing the risk towards cancers. Those who quit earlier are at a lesser risk of developing cancer than those who quit at a later stage, but those who don’t smoke at all or use tobacco at all are at the least risk with cancer probabilities.
Another surprising cause of cancer unveiled by scientific research shows that individuals with professions such as construction workers, painters or employs of the chemical industry are more at risk of cancer than other individuals! This is because these individuals are more exposed to chemicals such as asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, cadmium or benzidine, which according to many studies can be quite a possible cause of cancer.
Another highly surprisingly case of cancer and one that may come as quite the shocker is working in late night shifts. Studies conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer state that employees who work in the wee hours of the night, carrying out long hours of exhausting shifts, such as nurses and flight attendants, are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those working flexible shifts at work. Further research conducted on the matter concludes that a disruption in the sleep-wake cycle can lead to abnormalities in the production of melatonin which may cause tumors to develop and lead to cancer!
Another surprising cause of cancer that has recently gained much attention is certain hormones recommended by doctors, such as estrogen, during menopause. These hormones have shown to be a probable cause of cancer and a definite risk factor for certain kinds. Studies have indicated that the induction of menopausal hormone therapy can increase the likelihood of breast cancer, strokes, blood clotting and heart attacks in certain women.
Furthermore, another study conducted on Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a form of estrogen, to pregnant women in America showed that women who took the hormone were at an increased risk of developing breast cancers and their daughters for cervix cancer. This shows that certain hormones can be a cause of cancer to some extent.
Certain lifestyle related factors such as a poor diet, lack of physical activity in everyday routine and being overweight can count as possible risk factors or causes of cancer. There are multiple studies that have proven that people who consume a high amount of fatty foods are at a much increased risk of developing cancers of the colon, prostrate and uterus, whereas those who are overweight and do not indulge in much physical activity at a greater risk of cancers such as breast, esophagus, kidney, uterus and colon cancers.
Chemical hair treatments are yet another surprising cause of cancer. Research states that exposure to certain kinds of chemicals, hair dyes and pigments used by salons can put hairdressers at a risk of cancer. However, if enough precautions are taken, such as wearing of gloves and using sterilized equipment, the risk can be greatly minimized. Furthermore, most of the hair products now available in the market are made free of these cancerous elements and chemicals and are tested against cancer before being stocked and shelved.
This may come as a great shock to you, but recent research shows that oral sex can be a huge risk factor for throat cancer in men, more so than the consumption of tobacco! HPV is a kind of virus that is known to be the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. However, the astonishing news that has recently been discovered is the strong links between oral sex and mouth cancer in men. The HPV can be a very dangerous virus, as infections do not bear any symptoms till it is not benign anymore and has already translated into cancer. A pap smear test is the only means to knowing whether a woman is infected with the virus or not. A man having oral sex with an infected woman can be at a risk of developing throat cancer.
As ridiculous as this may sound, cancer treatments themselves can very well be a cause of cancer. Surprisingly, some cancer treatments aiming to resolve one kind of cancer can prompt another kind of it! A medication used to treat breast cancer called tamoxifen, is known to have some side effects that include the risk of developing uterine and endometrial cancers! Furthermore, some individuals who are treated for cancer with the help of radiation therapy have gone on to show signs of developing leukemia as well! While consulting on possible treatments for cancer, be sure to ask your doctor whether the benefits outweigh the risks or not, as apparently treatment in cancer can be as risky as no treatment at all.
