“Great advancements have been made, but cancer is still the leading cause of death for people under the age of 85. In the United States, one in every four people die from cancer.” – BioDigital System’s Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon
Shocking isn’t it? It’s about 25% of the people in the United States dies from cancer. So, what causes cancer anyway? Well, the uncontrolled growth of cells and for it to not die is the main culprit of such disease, called cancer. Supposedly, a cell is programmed to grow and die and when these cells don’t die and continue to grow, it flows through the blood destroying the healthy tissues.
Carcinogens can alter the metabolism of a cell and can damage DNA. It escalates the growth of cancer cells. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, gamma and x-rays, the sun, and fumes exhaust from cars are all examples of carcinogens. Even the simple grilling of meats is an example of carcinogen. Burning of meat at a high temperature produces the same carcinogen as cigarette has. Cigarette has thousands of compounds that can be carcinogenic or if not, noxious. Also, overheating or frying of carbohydrates may be carcinogenic such as potato chips, French fries, etc.
There are many ways to prevent cancer. One can choose not to smoke, or if you’re a smoker, quitting can still be effective to prevent the risk of having it. Viruses like Hepatitis B may lead to liver cancer and can be prevented by vaccines. Some vaccines for women also prevent cervical cancer. Moreover, to protect our skin from cancerous radiation emitted by the sun which can cause skin cancer, sunscreens, and staying in shaded areas can help. Proper diet also helps since some foods are associated with carcinogens. Fresh fruits and low-fat food are recommended. There are also cancers, which are caused by obesity and lack of exercise that can be easily avoided by every individual with just proper discipline.
