The causes of cancer

[trophy33]

Even though common people think that cancer is a bit like a lottery - whatever you do or dont do, you cannot influence it - the reality is quite different. Its important to know how to live to minimize the risk of cancer.

Indeed, some cancers can be from environmental pollution, heavy metals, from radiation disasters, too many roentgen scans and similar, which may be difficult to individually mitigate.

However, the most of cancers are caused by:

1. Smoking - tobacco smoking is the leading cause of cancer globally, responsible for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths.
2. Obesity - is linked to a higher risk for 13 different types of cancer.
3. Alcohol - is associated with an increased risk of several cancers, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancers.
4. Physical Inactivity - lack of physical activity is a significant risk factor, contributing to obesity and directly increasing the risk for several types of cancer.
5. Chronic Inflammation - conditions that cause chronic inflammation may lead to an increased risk of certain cancers over time due to ongoing cellular damage.
6. Infectious Agents - Certain viruses and bacteria are linked to cancer development.
7. Stress - Prolonged stress can weaken the immune system, reducing its ability to detect and destroy cancer cells. Stress is linked to chronic inflammation, a recognized factor in cancer development.
8. Sugar - Epidemiological and preclinical studies indicate that high sugar intake may contribute to the development and progression of various cancers, independent of obesity. Cancer cells utilize glucose for energy, often at a higher rate than normal cells, a phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect. This suggests that elevated blood sugar levels can support tumor growth . High insulin levels, resulting from excessive sugar intake, may also stimulate cancer cell proliferation
9. Pesticides - numerous studies have shown positive associations between pesticide exposure and various cancers, namely leukemia

What can we do to minimize the risk:

1. Do not smoke (neither actively nor passively)
2. Stay slim - see "Healthy diet"
3. Do not drink alcohol
4. Move (it may be just a 30 min fast walk a day + some stretching at home, nothing big)
5. Limit stress - in your work, in your personal life
6. Vaccinate against the cancers that are caused by infectious agents, if you are in a higher risk of such cancers.
7. Healthy diet - a low carb, low insulin diet, with only minimally processed foods, ideally organic/bio (without pesticides and heavy metals). Adding foods with specific anti-cancer properties (kefir, green tea, garlic...) may also be a good strategy.
8. Healthy environment - not everybody can do this, but if you can, move to a place that has clean air, clean water, low noise, low radiation exposure and is not stressing you
9. Boost your immunity system - take care of your microbiome, get enough (but not too much) sunshine, supplement D3/K2 if you cant get the sunshine, eat fermented foods...
10. Fasting, ketogenic diets or zero carb diets may also add another level of protection, even when some tumors are already detected.
11. Sleep deeply and well - during the night sleep, all important cleaning, immunity reactions and regeneration is taking place

 

[timewerx]

A relative recently died of cancer but had poor health habit. Inactive and overweight from indulging on food. Ironically, they neither ate fast food nor junk food, they simply ate a lot and there's probably lots of carbs in their diet (potatoes, pasta, rice). although they lived a very low stress life in one of the nicest and cleanest "welfare countries" on the planet.

Most on the father's side is dying of cancer while on mother's side with cardio vascular disease. We're probably genetically predisposed to cancer so I'm doing the best I could to get healthy.

Fast walking is probably one of the best exercises and some weight lifting is also necessary to have strong bones. One of the anti-cancer benefit of exercise is improved network of blood vessels. It may sound counter-intuitive to cancer because cancer stimulates building of blood vessels around itself. However, in the very early stages of cancer, the body's recycling system can eliminate cancer if well oxygenated with good network of blood vessels. Also cancer metastasis is caused by oxygen starvation if having insufficient network of blood vessels (metastatic cells travel elsewhere in the body to find places with more oxygen.

Lately, I've been cutting down on carbs because I'm no longer seeing any benefit to increased carb intake despite exercising 9 to 11 hours per week. When I cut down on carbs and hence reducing calorie intake as well (maintained same quantity of protein intake), it did not negatively affected my exercise performance at all.

 

[trophy33]

A relative recently died of cancer but had poor health habit. Inactive and overweight from indulging on food. Ironically, they neither ate fast food nor junk food, they simply ate a lot and there's probably lots of carbs in their diet (potatoes, pasta, rice). although they lived a very low stress life in one of the nicest and cleanest "welfare countries" on the planet.

Most on the father's side is dying of cancer while on mother's side with cardio vascular disease. We're probably genetically predisposed to cancer so I'm doing the best I could to get healthy.

Fast walking is probably one of the best exercises and some weight lifting is also necessary to have strong bones. One of the anti-cancer benefit of exercise is improved network of blood vessels. It may sound counter-intuitive to cancer because cancer stimulates building of blood vessels around itself. However, in the very early stages of cancer, the body's recycling system can eliminate cancer if well oxygenated with good network of blood vessels. Also cancer metastasis is caused by oxygen starvation if having insufficient network of blood vessels (metastatic cells travel elsewhere in the body to find places with more oxygen.

Lately, I've been cutting down on carbs because I'm no longer seeing any benefit to increased carb intake despite exercising 9 to 11 hours per week. When I cut down on carbs and hence reducing calorie intake as well (maintained same quantity of protein intake), it did not negatively affected my exercise performance at all.

My close family had the history of cancer, multiple sclerosis, serious mental problems, diabetes, heart problems... I think most of these disasters were preventable or at least treatable more easily with these quite simple life changes.

 

[timewerx]

My close family had the history of cancer, multiple sclerosis, serious mental problems, diabetes, heart problems... I think most of these disasters were preventable or at least treatable more easily with these quite simple life changes.

That's true. What's worrying though is that even if you don't have genetic predisposition to cancer, poor health habits can affect overlying genetic traits and these changes are heritable.

Some experts think that is the mechanism that is driving evolution (or devolution) by body adaptations to the environment and most certainly our lifestyles (diet, activity, stress management).

The good news is good health habits could also break the "genetic curse" if your genetic inheritance have issues. Not to sound religious or anything but it does sound like it anyway.

 

[trophy33]

That's true. What's worrying though is that even if you don't have genetic predisposition to cancer, poor health habits can affect overlying genetic traits and these changes are heritable.

Some experts think that is the mechanism that is driving evolution (or devolution) by body adaptations to the environment and most certainly our lifestyles (diet, activity, stress management).

The good news is good health habits could also break the "genetic curse" if your genetic inheritance have issues. Not to sound religious or anything but it does sound like it anyway.

Yes, I do not buy the genetic predisposition too much. I think its more "hereditary life style" predisposition.

For example, if parents eat junk food, use sugar in everything, drink alcohol and argue all the time, their children will probably repeat the pattern. Which causes that children look similar to their parents, after they reach the same age, and have similar health problems.

All these problems exploded in the last 100 years, because the common folks lost the healthy lifestyle in this period of time. After two or three generations, we are here - in the pandemic of basically all civilization diseases.

 

[FireDragon76]

To a certain extent, cancer is random, though a great many cancers could be prevented with better diet and weight management. In addition, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the US, and it's on the increase. Taking steps like limiting exposure to bright mid-day sunlight (especially for those of us living in the sunbelt), wearing protective clothing and sunscreen (even in an automobile or indoors next to a window, since glass typically doesn't block all UV radiation), would go a long way towards preventing these types of cancers.

Alcohol is best avoided if possible, as it can increase ones risk of cancer even in moderate amounts.

 

[timewerx]

skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the US, and it's on the increase.

You can blame the sharp increase in the popularity of cycling and running (outdoor exercises) that also led to increased consumption of coffee + sugar.

I exercise outdoors but I don't take coffee breaks or any kind of food break. I eat a proper meal afterwards which means no snacking after that.

Many people who become physically active often ends up eating all the time which ironically can negate the benefits of exercise.

If autophagy is working efficiently, it can get rid of cancerous cells in the very early stages.