Defending Against Cancer
Breast cancer cells spreading to the liver. Source: National Cancer Institute, USA
What Causes Cancers
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body (2). “About 35% of known cancers are associated with tobacco use and about 55% with inappropriate nutritional habits…” (3) That maybe a simplified statement of the causes, but it reflects the extent of the importance of a healthy life style, in the light that we can do little about the immediate less than ideal environmental conditions. It is known that these elements may cause cancers (4):
- Genetic inheritance
- Tobacco
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of exercises
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol
- UV exposure
Infectious virus, bacteria, parasites etc (such as the association of helicobacter pylori with stomach cancer, or human papillomavirus — HPV — with cervical cancer) - Environmental contaminants, such as radon, lead, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, formaldehyde, radiations etc. They exist around us in the air, walls, flooring (even as ‘natural’ as stones), furniture, paints, cosmetics, printers, cell phones etc, etc.
Prevention is the Best Medicine: Some Common Sense
Sounds scary, doesn’t it? There’s more: cancers now account for over 23% of deaths in US annually to have become the 2nd most popular cause of deaths in the country, just slightly after the number one killer there, the heart diseases (25%). Actual number? That’s 562 thousands a year, in US alone (5). Maybe US is really bad and other countries are better off? 27% of all deaths in UK are due to cancer (6); the disease is the number one killer in Japan, accounting for one in every three deaths, and most likely cigarette related lung cancer (7); it’s also number one in Hong Kong, killing over two times more people than the second killer — heart diseases (8)… That’s quite a bit too much of depressing figures; let’s not continue on that. You get the idea anyway.
Number of deaths caused by cancers for all sites (of the human body) for the year 2010 in USA. Data reference: American Cancer Society
Let’s look at it on the brighter side: scientists now know a bit better what causes cancers and are able to advise on ways to best stay away from the causes of them (9):
- Stay away from tobacco and excessive alcohol
- Avoid as much as possible unsafe environmental factors, such as contaminants in the air, water, radiation, and electro-magnetic waves
- Minimize intake of heavily processed food
- Take on regular exercises
- Do the needed vaccine and check ups (10)
- Contribute to the efforts for a less contaminated environment, that includes your car, home, workplace, community and the Earth
As for your internal environment, a balanced diet, a lot of fresh fruits, herbs and veggies, and a lot of tea.
