To determine what causes cancer, someone must look at the things that cause the cell damage that causes cancer and the things that make the person susceptible to cancer.
A carcinogen is something that is known to increase someones risk of cancer. Tobacco smoke and sun damage are well known carcinogens.
A carcinogen can increase the risk of certain types of cancer and not affect the risk of other types of cancer. Tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer, but does not cause breast cancer or skin cancer.
Certain factors increase the risk of the carcinogens ability to cause cancer. Genetics can increase someones risk of developing cancer. People in some families with a strong history of cancer are more susceptible to cancer than people from families in which cancer is rare or nonexistent.
Another risk factor for developing cancer is age. As people age, their risk of cancer increases. Some research indicates that some cancers would be much more common if people lived longer.
An unhealthy lifestyle is considered to be a risk factor for cancer. People who drink too much alcohol or have unhealthy diets may be increasing their risk of cancer.
The immune system can affect the risk of cancer. A weakened immune system can increase a persons risk of certain cancers.
Viral infections can cause some cancers to develop. Not all viral infections increase cancer risk, but some viruses can lead to cancers like stomach or cervical cancer.
Another possibility of what causes cancer is an accidental difference in new cells from the parent cells. During the cell replication, new cells may be somewhat different. This change in the cells can be harmless or can lead to cancer.
Some of these factors cannot be changed by the person with these risks. A person cannot change their genetic risk of cancer. But, some of these factors, such as following a healthy lifestyle and avoiding excess sun exposure, can be changed and reduce the risk of some cancers.
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