Cancer develops when your cells grow and divide uncontrollably. This happens because of mistakes – or mutations – in your DNA which mean that your cells do not behave normally. These mutations can be caused by a lot of different factors or by random change. So what exactly increases our chance of getting cancer?
How do genetic mutations cause cancer?
The DNA inside your cells is often called the ‘recipe for life’. The order of DNA letters controls all sorts of things from the colour of your eyes to whether or not you can roll your tongue. Sometimes mutations in the DNA letters can have a big impact on your health.
Certain mutations mean that your cells grow and divide uncontrollably, leading to cancer. The natural processes of life generate molecules that damage DNA and cause mutations - and things outside our body in our environment and lifestyle can cause them too.
Our cells have evolved repair kits to fix mutations and prevent cancer from developing but unfortunately, this doesn't always work. By better understanding the way that mutations cause cancer, researchers can find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer - and help us reach a day when no life is cut short by the disease.
Why do we get cancer?
There are are a number of factors that we know of that can cause cancer. Some of them we have less, or no control over - which is why research into early diagnosis and better treatment of cancers is so important.
Age
The older we get, the more mutations accumulate in our cells. This means that it we are more likely to develop cancer when we are older.
Family history
Cancer cannot be passed on from your parents, but you can inherit certain genes that increase your chance of developing cancer. Only about 5 to 10 in every 100 cancer cases are believed to be caused by inheriting cancer genes.
People who have certain BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer and some other cancer types. If you inherit one of these cancer genes it does not mean you will definitely develop cancer.
Researchers in Spain are investigating how a faulty BRCA2 gene causes breast cancer to develop, to try to find new ways to stop It in its tracks.
Viruses
The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer and a few other cancer types. This happens because the virus can change our DNA, leading to cancer.
Thanks to the HPV vaccine, rates of cervical cancer have plummeted in recent years and the World Health Organisation believe that in the future it will be eliminated completely.
Hormones
Taking the pill or HRT can affect your risk of developing certain cancers, but for most people the benefits outweigh the risk. Please speak to your doctor before starting to use the pill or HRT.
Interestingly, hormones may also be a potential cancer cure. Dr Pierre Val in France is exploring whether testosterone can be used to trat adrenocortical cancer.
Air pollution
Research has shown that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer. However, in the UK air pollution levels are lower than in many other countries and there are other factors – largely smoking – that have a larger impact on your cancer risk.
Asbestos
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer and a few other cancers. Asbestos used to be used to insulate buildings but the use of asbestos has been banned since 1999 in the UK. Not everyone who has been exposed will develop cancer and it only becomes dangerous when the asbestos fibres are released into the air.
Can you reduce your risk of cancer?
We now know that around 4 in 10 cancers could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes, which is why research seeking to uncover new ways to prevent cancer is so important.
Not smoking
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the world and is the number one cause of lung cancer, responsible for around 7 out of 10 cases in the UK. Not smoking at all is one of the most important things someone can do to reduce their chance of getting cancer.
Maintaining a healthy weight
It is thought that about 1 in 20 cancers are linked to obesity, and the longer you are overweight for and the more weight you carry, the higher the risk is – though it is important to remember that not everyone who is obese will develop cancer in their lifetime, and being a healthy weight does not preclude you from developing it either.
Eating a balanced diet
Despite what you may have read online, there is no food that will cause or prevent cancer. The best way to reduce your risk of cancer is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. This will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which will also help reduce your risk of cancer.
There is research ongoing to better understand the link between diet and cancer. Professor Salvador Aznar-Benitah and his team in Spain were funded by Worldwide Cancer Research to explore how certain parts of our diet could help cancer to spread.
Being physically active
Physical activity has been shown to reduce your risk of cancer although the exact mechanism is unclear. It is likely due to a combination of effects that are directly caused by being active and knock-on effects such as helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Limiting how much alcohol you drink
All the best available evidence (for which there is a lot) tells us that drinking alcohol causes seven types of cancer. It doesn’t matter what you drink and it doesn’t matter how you drink it. Alcohol is a carcinogen. Alcohol causes cancer.
Protecting yourself from the sun
It's important to wear sunscreen and avoid prolonged periods of direct exposure to the sun because it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
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