What is the relationship between environmental factors and cancer?
88034
The risk of cancer increases if people are exposed to carcinogens (factors causing cancer,ex radiation)
501494
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and lethal disease. The risk of developing CRC is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors.\n\nApproximately 145,290 new cases of large bowel cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, of which 104,950 are colon and the remainder rectal cancers.\n\nIn 2005, more than 56,000 Americans will die of CRC, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer deaths. In the United States, CRC ranks second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death, and it is third both in frequency and cause of cancer death, in men and women separately.\n\nAge is a major risk factor for sporadic CRC. It is a rare diagnosis before the age of 40, the incidence begins to increase significantly between the ages of 40 and 50, and age-specific incidence rates increase in each succeeding decade thereafter.\n\nThe lifetime incidence of CRC in patients at average risk is about 5%, with 90% of cases occurring after age 50. The incidence is higher in patients with specific inherited conditions that predispose them to the development of CRC.\n\nEnvironmental and genetic factors can increase the likelihood of developing CRC. Although inherited susceptibility results in the most striking increases in risk, the majority of CRCs are sporadic rather than familial. At least some data supports the view that family history (as well as physical activity level) are stronger contributors to colon cancer as opposed to rectal cancer risk.\n\nAssociated risk factors:\n1. Familial adenomatous polyposis\n2. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer \n3. Personal or family history of sporadic cancers or adenomatous polyps\n4. Inflammatory bowel disease\n5. Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance\n6. Alcohol \n7. Cigarette smoking\n\nHope this helped ;)\n\n-random physician
1111722
Anything en excess can be harmful, but too much estrogen can increase your risk of cancer.  Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
723685
There isn't just one cause for cancer and that is one of the reasons it is so difficult to eradicate. Anyone, at any age from fetus to the elderly can get cancer, so it is more than environmental or stress or anything that mere humans have control over. It is very easy to blame the enrironment or the patient for 'getting cancer', but it is not quite that simple.\n\nFor example, my son has a rare abdominal sarcoma with no known cause . . it is considered a childhood cancer because of the primitive nature of the cancer cells. There are some unusual features to this cancer, it is almost predominately boys in the second decade of life who are affected. Why? Why would a cancer predominately affect young boys? It may be genetic (no conclusive evidence to prove this, and no connection between the patients) or it may have to do with hormones or testosterone, since the cancer presents itself during 'growth spurts'. But, we really do not know. Another oddity about the cancer is that it shares the genetic features of two other childhood cancers . . in other words it is a chimeric cancer . . it melded two other forms of cancer into a new cancer. Which may indicate that cancer has the ability to change and transform.\n\nI do not believe that there is anything anyone can do to totally prevent cancer at this point. Remaining healthy by eating properly and exercising will give you the strenght to fight a cancer, but I don't think it will prevent it. Cutting back on addictions such as smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy lifestyles helps also. Still . . people who have never smoked a day in their life can develop lung cancer. A fetus can develop cancer in the womb. Month old babies can die from cancer. No age group, sex, or race  is immune.\n\nThe best prevention is probably to become aware of your own body and if your a parent, the signs of cancer in children. Examine your body, teach your children to become aware of their bodies, look for changes, or spots, and report any suspicious lumps or bumps immediately. Parents should learn to listen to their children and recongnize the warning signs. The family doctor also needs to be brought up to speed on recognizing the early signs of cancer. Early detection is the best prevention that we have at the moment.
1117490
It can be linked to exposure to chemicals and various toxins.
1166019
Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis. Metastasis is defined as the stage in which cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk increases with age. It is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries.\n\nThere are many types of cancer. Severity of symptoms depends on the site and character of the malignancy and whether there is metastasis. A definitive diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of tissue by a pathologist. This tissue is obtained by biopsy or surgery. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for the type of cancer pathology. Drugs that target specific cancers already exist for several cancers. If untreated, cancers may eventually cause illness and death, though this is not always the case.\n\nThe unregulated growth that characterizes cancer is caused by damage to DNA, resulting in mutations to genes that encode for proteins controlling cell division. Many mutation events may be required to transform a normal cell into a malignant cell. These mutations can be caused by chemicals or physical agents called carcinogens, by close exposure to radioactive materials, or by certain viruses that can insert their DNA into the human genome. Mutations occur spontaneously, or are passed down generations as a result of germ line mutations.\n\nMany forms of cancer are associated with exposure to environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, radiation, alcohol and certain viruses. While some of these can be avoided, there is no known way to entirely avoid the disease, and public health and vaccination programs are also important on a global scale.\n\n\nI hope you find what your looking for.\n\nGood Luck!\n\n=)
746632
It's an indirect connection.  Exercise removes toxins from your system which, if left there for any length of time, may cause infection.  Infections, though they come and go, are usually not that big of a problem until they become chronic infection (this means the infection remains in the same place for a long time, possibly years).  And with chronic infection, this invites cancer because that has been scientifically proven.  Also, exercise helps with circulation of the blood.  The blood is what carries toxins away eliminates from your body including through the pores of your skin.  There are other factors that influence cancer such as diet.  For instance, a poor diet (one with a lot of white processed flour, processed sugar, and saturated fats) will also result in infection regardless of what exercise program you are on.
802818
CANCER - Yes I can give lot of information but without knowing details from you it is difficult. I can only give general inforamtion. read -\n\nCancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis. Metastasis is defined as the stage in which cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk tends to increase with age, due to the fact that DNA damage becomes more apparent in aging DNA. It is one of the principal causes of death in developed countries.\n\nThere are many types of cancer. Severity of symptoms depends on the site and character of the malignancy and whether there is metastasis. A definitive diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of tissue by a pathologist. This tissue is obtained by biopsy or surgery. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for the type of cancer pathology. Drugs that target specific cancers already exist for several cancers. If untreated, cancers may eventually cause illness and death, though this is not always the case.\n\nThe unregulated growth that characterizes cancer is caused by damage to DNA, resulting in mutations to genes that encode for proteins controlling cell division. Many mutation events may be required to transform a normal cell into a malignant cell. These mutations can be caused by chemicals or physical agents called carcinogens, by close exposure to radioactive materials, or by certain viruses that can insert their DNA into the human genome. Mutations occur spontaneously, and may be passed down from one generation to the next as a result of mutations within germ lines.\n\nMany forms of cancer are associated with exposure to environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, radiation, alcohol and certain viruses. While some of these risk factors can be avoided or reduced, there is no known way to entirely avoid the disease.\n\nif you require any specific information please post your question accoringly and there are persons like me to answer your qurries in details-.
1083036
depends on the type of c.a. I've met , and served, many people with cancer. Thier children live more careful, don't injest poisons- tobacco, alcohol etc. , they watch what chemicals they are exposed to closer , they exercise more faithfully, eat better,love with more gusto, and usually Pray harder after experiencing a death or near death from cancer.. Genetics is only a small part it. How you live makes more difference-- but do not be decieved, it can sneak in so many ways that medicine does not have a clue, really, how to prevent cancer. Sometimes it seems like predestination, no known cause, no familial history, no known exposure to hi risk factors, then boom; your dead... flip the coin
915581
A carcinogen is a substance that is capable of causing cancer in humans or animals. If a substance is known to promote or aggravate cancer, but not necessarily cause cancer,may act on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), causing dangerous changes, or it may work to increase the rate of cell division. This change in cell division may work to increase the probability of DNA changes. Some carcinogens promote the development of cancer in other ways as well.
78044
Yes, in theory cancer has existed since the beginning of life. It exists in almost all known species (in one form or another). Cancer, simply put, is when a cell loses its ability to regulate division, and begins dividing (reproducing) uncontrollably. This happens most often due to a genetic mutation in the DNA/RNA of the cell. Mutations can be caused by radiation (including UV rays), toxins in the environment, and many other mutagens.\n\nIt occurs more often in older people because they have usually been exposed to more of these mutagens throughout their lives than younger people. There is also a genetic component – if you inherited genes from your parents that were precursors to cancer, then it takes fewer mutations before getting a cancer cell.\n\nThis is also the most likely explanation for why there are so many different types of cancer today -- people live MUCH longer than they did even 50 years ago, and are therefore exposed to more cancer-causing mutagens in their lifetime. People are also (on average) having children much later in life, which makes it more likely to pass on genes that have more genetic mutations.
18075
Smoking dramatically increases your chance of getting lung cancer (amongst other cancers of the mouth and throat) but is not the ONLY cause of cancer. Sometimes cancer develops not due to smoking. Cigarettes contain cancer CAUSING agents.
549166
Look at this website, it'll give you lots of information:\n\nhttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives
569203
Burnt food may produce carcinogens and has been linked to cancer in studies.  But everything is linked to cancer.  Eat in moderation.\n\nhttp://www.thetampapodiatrist.com
142504
Matt and Bert are both correct but there are so many factors.  Some kinds of cancer seems to "run" in families.  Recent things I've read indicate that if all men lived to be 80 years old almost all of them would have prostate cancer.  Many kinds of cancer seem to be affected by poor diet, though not directly caused by it.  Smoking and other pollution and chemicals in the environment seem to have an effect.  People who are obese seem to be more likely to get certain kinds of cancer.\n\nThe bottom line is that there is no simple answer to your question.  Do some internet searches for differnt kinds of cancer and you'll get more specific information.
1098315
Genetics and environmental factors play a part, but why do some family members get it and not others, and why do some people exposed to a carcinogen develop cancer while others don't? As a cancer survivor, my own theory is that your immune system plays a role and that someday we will learn that viruses act as instigating agents.
400660
yes because it produces kind of radiation which may cause genetic mutations that may finally lead to cancer!\nbut this is not occuring usually, the parcentage of its harm is not high so you don't have to worry!