A frequent question I get asked.... 'what causes cancer?' If only my response was as succinct as the question....

Cancer is caused by many contributing factors culminating over a long period of time. The causes of cancer are difficult to define as it can take years for these interdependent precipitating elements to culminate into an actual diagnosis. 

Why do some seemingly 'healthy' people develop cancer whilst others don't? 

Although we can't pinpoint a single cause of cancer, we can identify some potential risk factors which I will run through below. Some of these include;  environment, processed and artificial foods, insulin resistance, obesity, certain viruses and of course prolonged stress. These conditions also suppress the immune system, thereby inhibiting the action of immune cells responsible for detecting and responding to mutated cells. When the cell divides, the DNA of that cell is exposed to a reactive environment, and the possibility of genetic alterations is increased. 

It is generally accepted that carcinogenesis is associated with a three stage development process: 

(a) Initiation - This can be due to chemical exposure, radiation or viral infection. The initiation phase is not dependant on the dose or duration of the exposure. This state is usually reversible. Initiation primes the cell for division. 

(b) Promotion -This stage requires continual exposure to the promoting agent.  Major genome changes occur at this stage, for example, gene amplification. deletions, insertions, duplication. This stage is sensitive to dietary and hormonal factors, yet this stage is generally still reversible. 

(c) Progression - This is where the conversion from the benign to the malignant state progresses and is normally irreversible. It is associated with haphazard growth, invasiveness and metastasis. 

The most significant factors involved in the induction and subsequent promotion of cancer are: 

Diet

Optimal cellular nourishment is critical for the prevention of cancer. Many epidemiological studies indicate that in general an increase in the consumption of fibre rich cereals, vegetables and fruits, and decreased consumption of fat-rich products and excessive alcohol is associated with lower cancer rates. Refined and processed foods lack the nutrients and enzymes required to protect us from cancer. (1)

Environment

Toxic environmental chemicals such pesticides and industrial by-products assault the body and place an enormous burden on the immune system and major detoxification pathways. 

Genetics

Mutant genes can be passed from one generation to another. These genetic alterations allow faulty messages to be transmitted, such as the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes at a time when they may be needed to defend the body. 

Oxidative stress

Free radicals are by-products or waste material expelled by the cell, and they are not normally a threat to us. However, problems arise when continued exposure to oxidative stress overburden the body's means to eliminate them. These free radicals circulate through our body causing structural alterations in our DNA e.g base pair mutations, deletions, insertions & amplifications. By altering genetic material, free radicals can disrupt a cell's cancer-prevention apparatus and impair its ability to function optimally. (2)

A number os external factors can promote free radical formation in the body; 

* Pollutants 

* UV light

* Alcohol 

* Cigarette smoke 

* Radiation 

Chronic viral and bacterial  & fungal infections 

Hepatitis B or C is associated with liver cancer, Epstein Barr Virus with Burkett's lymphoma and nasal T cell lymphoma and HIV with Kaposi's sarcoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. (3)

Helicobacter pylori appears to increase the risk of gastric cancer and gall bladder cancer. These microbes enter the human body by means of contaminated food and water where they produce chemical carcinogens that lead to DNA damage and subsequently a series of gene mutations transform normal cells into cancer cells. (4)

The Ascomycete's family fungal type of infection has been implicated in the growth of cancers (5). These anerobic organisms release conidia (fragments of cell structures) that act as the invasive agent and turn a normal mammalian cell into its malignant phase. Mould carcinogens have been associated with hepatic cancers, adeno cancers of the pancreas and osteosarcomas. 

 In addition to the major causes I have listed above, there are of course so many other factors involved in cancer development. Cancer is a highly complex disease, which even to this day is  poorly understood. Cancer is multifaceted and its development relies upon insult after insult. There has to be roughly 6 different mutations before a normal cell turns into a cancer cell. 

Whether you are trying to prevent an initial diagnosis of cancer, or focusing on preventing a reoccurrence, the rules are the same. Adopting certain diet & lifestyle strategies, reducing exposure to environmental toxins and looking after your immune system is certainly a great place to start. With cancer rates continuing to rise year after year, we almost all have to adopt a cancer preventative strategies. These lifestyle factors can stimulate the repair of damaged genes and silence the expression of mutated genes. Conversely, certain lifestyle factors can contribute to more genetic damage and promote the expression of already damaged genes. 

If there is one piece of advice I could give all my clients, it would be to nurture your body, mind and spirit. You cannot experience true health until you acknowledge the importance of each and everyone of these pillars of health. 

References:

Diet & Cancer:

(1) https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/an-overview-of-the-epidemiological-evidence-linking-diet-and-cancer/46F927FF6F860E559C30BA3599B02FCE

(2) https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbic.202100641

(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1994798/

(4) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00005/full

(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8666644/