Inside Cancer

By Chetan Bhawani

Cancer is a disorder of genes. Genes are a small part of DNA which are made up of proteins. The genes mainly produce proteins which are involved in controlling cell growth and division. But due to errors or mutations(a sudden change), the abnormal change in the no. of cell divisions occurs and this increases to an uncontrollable change. This change is called a “Tumor”. There are two types of tumors : Benign and Malignant.

Benign tumor is not considered as a cancer but Malignant is considered as a Cancer.
Cancers are also of many types mainly caused at different specific regions of the body and have different general causes.

The following are the factors that cause Cancer :

1. Tobacco : Eighty to ninety percent of cancers are due to tobacco usage, mainly smoking. Smoking is shown to cause cancers in noticeable parts of the body like the Respiratory tract, Esophagus, Larynx, Bladder, Pancreas and liver, kidney and stomach also in a few cases.

2. Alcohol : Alcohol is the major factor involved in the cause of Liver cancer. If alcohol and tobacco are taken together, then they are the major risk factors in the cause of Mouth, Pharynx, Larynx and Esophageal cancers.

3. Sexual Behavior : A virus called as Human Papilloma Virus, is known to cause cancer of the Cervix. This is sexually transmitted between the individuals. Also women who are without children are usually having risk of Ovarian or Breast Cancer.

4. Pollution : The main polluting agent which is closely related to cause of cancers is Asbestos particles. The other dangerous cause of cancer from pollution is from the chemicals that are released from the sewage released from the industries. The chlorine added to water also is a minor cause of Cancer. Only one percent of cancer deaths are due to Pollution.

5. Unbalanced Diet : Alteration in the diet of the people is a major cause of cancers. About 35% of the cancers caused are due to imbalanced diet and that too due to excessive intake of food. Over eating causes Obesity which is responsible for many type of cancers like cancers of Breast, Colon, Rectum, Pancreas, Prostrate, Gall Bladder, Ovaries and Uterus.

6. Hazards in Occupation: People in occupation involved in working of elements that are a cause of cancers are about 4% of all cancer deaths.
A few types of cancers and their occupational hazards are listed here that are reported by researchers:
a) Lung cancer is caused due to excess of Asbestos exposure.
b) Bladder cancer mainly in Dye, rubber and gas workers.
c) Skin and Lung cancer in smelter, gold miners and arsenic workers.
d) Leukemia(Blood Cancer) in Glue and varnish workers.
e) Lung cancer in PVC manufactures.
f) Uranium miners are effected with Lung cancer and bone marrow cancer.

7. Environmental cause: Radiations from the sun, especially UV radiation is
responsible for 1-2% of all cancer deaths. Other sources of harmful radiations are X rays, Radon gas, and radiations from nuclear material.

8. Infectious agents: Scientists have shown evidences that about 15% of all cancer deaths are resulted after infections from bacteria, virus and other parasites.

9. Through generations: A few types of cancers are caused generation to generation in the same families. Eye cancer, Breast cancer and a type of colon cancer are continued generation after generation in certain families.

Out of these causes a few can be prevented and a few can not be prevented as they might be transferred by genes in the family.