What will cause cancer

A risk factor does not necessarily cause the disease, but it may make the body less resistant to it. The following risk factors and mechanisms have been proposed as contributing to cancer:. The discovery of certain types of genes that contribute to cancer has been an extremely important development for cancer research. Some of these alterations are inherited, while others are sporadic, which means they occur by chance or occur from environmental exposures usually over many years.

There are three main types of genes that can affect cell growth and are altered mutated in certain types of cancers, including the following:.

Usually the number of cells in any of our body tissues is tightly controlled so that new cells are made for normal growth and development, as well as to replace dying cells. Ultimately, cancer is a loss of this balance due to genetic alterations that "tip the balance" in favor of excessive cell growth.

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Types of cancer. Genetic testing. What Causes Cancer? Cancer Risk Factors As mentioned, some cancers, particularly in adults, have been associated with repetitive exposures or risk factors. The following risk factors and mechanisms have been proposed as contributing to cancer: Lifestyle factors. Smoking, a high-fat diet, and working with toxic chemicals are examples of lifestyle choices that may be risk factors for some adult cancers.

Most children with cancer, however, are too young to have been exposed to these lifestyle factors for any extended time. Family history, inheritance, and genetics may play an important role in some childhood cancers. It is possible for cancer of varying forms to be present more than once in a family.

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