Dr Manish Singhal - The best Cancer Specialist in Delhi
How do healthy people get cancer?
Can a healthy person get cancer?
This is a frequently asked question. The answer is complex.
Cancer is emerging as a major public health problem in India. It is a multifaceted disease with a long latent period, and it needs specialized infrastructure & human resources for treatment. It is estimated that every year there will be 800,000 new cancer cases in India.
Coming back to the looming question, why do some people get cancer while others don’t?
No one really knows why some healthy people get cancer. As an expert rightly said, ‘cancer is a disease of chance.” Many researchers are working on just that because knowing this will tell them whether some cancers can be prevented or not.
Cancer is not one disease; it is a complex group of diseases and it has multiple causes. Ask a cancer specialist and they’ll tell you that while exact causes are not known, experts do know the risk factors.
Read More: TOP 5 CANCER-FIGHTING FOODS - FOODS THAT COULD LOWER YOUR RISK OF CANCERBusting a common myth: Everybody has cancer cells in their body
No, everybody does not have cancer cells in their bodies. That is a myth.
Our bodies produce new cells constantly. Some of these new cells have the potential to become cancerous.
At any moment we can produce cells with damaged DNA. The damaged DNA either repairs itself or dies off through apoptosis. Cancer doesn’t occur in both cases, but if neither of the two occurs, cancer can happen.
Cancer in a Healthy Person-The Causes
According to cancer specialists, cancer is caused by the interaction of multiple factors. The said factors may be genetic, environmental, or the individual’s constitutional characteristics.
Epidemiological cancer studies have revealed that about 70-90% of all cancers are environmental. The most preventable causes/risk factors in the environmental exposure category are lifestyle-related factors.
Tobacco consumption is another one of the factors. Chewing tobacco or smoking tobacco accounts for 50% of cancers in men. Then comes dietary practices, sexual & reproductive practices, which account for 20-30% of cancers. Appropriate lifestyle changes can help in these by reducing the mortality and morbidity rates.
Leading a healthy lifestyle can greatly decrease one’s chances of developing cancer, but it never reduced the chances to zero. There is always a chance.
In 5-10% of all cancers, inherited genetic mutations play an important role. Mutations in specific genes have been associated with about 50 hereditary cancer syndromes-aka disorders predisposing people to develop certain types of cancer.
The number of hereditary cancers is increasing. In this case, the gene mutation/s is passed down in a family. Any individual born with this mutation has in each cell of their body, even eggs or sperm. Hence, it can be passed down to generation after generation. Individuals with this mutation are at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer. However, such a mutation is not guaranteed to produce cancer.
Certain patterns of these hereditary cancers have been discovered by researchers and cancer specialists, while others are being identified slowly with time. A study of family history with gene mutations can help researchers understand the features that can help them identify other families at higher risk for hereditary cancer. Individuals’ genetic predisposition to cancer is a relatively new science. Most of the current research is about the inherited breast cancer genes BR(breast)CA(cancer)1, and BRCA2.
90% of skin cancer is caused by UV radiation due to sun exposure. Some other types are caused by UV exposure from tanning beds. According to experts, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. UV exposure can damage skin cell DNAs, which, if it builds up over time, can cause skin cancer.
Chemical exposure can be a great risk factor for certain cancers. Chemicals such as benzene, beryllium, asbestos, vinyl chloride, arsenic, etc. are known carcinogens i.e., chemicals that have been found to cause cancer.
Another risk factor is weight, which leads to increased circulation of hormones like estrogen and insulin, which in turn, can stimulate cancer growth. Alcohol overuse can cause cancer as it has carcinogenic agents. Certain infections like HPV and hepatitis can also cause cancer.
In the end
So you see, there are several cancer-causing risk factors. Any of them can lead to cancer development. However, remember, cancer is a disease of chance, despite having no risk factors, many people develop cancer. The “why” is still unclear even to cancer specialists. But if you do avoid the risk factors, even if you develop cancer, chances are you will have a better chance of survival. For more information, you can consult a leading cancer specialist like Dr. Manish Singhal.
Note
Dr. Manish Singhal is the best oncologist in Noida. He and his team have treated hundreds of patients diagnosed with cancer. Armed with the latest technologies, futuristic endeavors, and an honest will to help cancer patients live their best life, they offer extensive services.
