Cancer is a severe chronic disease that can affect anyone. The World Health Organization states that 30-50 percent of cancers can be prevented. A cancer specialist in Navi Mumbai believes that your lifestyle choices play a significant role in increasing your risk of having cancer. Quitting smoking and having a healthy physical routine (to name a few) can mitigate this risk. In this post, we’ll take a look at who’s most likely to get cancer and why.
Who is Most Likely to Get Cancer?
i) Genetic Factors
While cancer doesn’t directly pass from parents to their offspring, the gene mutations can be inherited. Certain gene variants might increase your likelihood of developing certain types of cancers.
For example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Mutations in the RB1 gene can cause eye cancer in children. That said, having cancer-related gene variants doesn’t mean you will definitely develop cancer. It only increases the risk. It’s advisable to schedule regular checkups with your healthcare expert just to be on the safe side.
ii) Lifestyle Choices
As mentioned above, certain lifestyle choices are associated with an increased risk of cancer. Here are a few:
a) Smoking and Tobacco Consumption:
These are the biggest risk factors for cancer. Smoking interferes with the cell’s DNA, making them more likely to grow aggressively, forming a tumor. These are linked to throat, mouth, bladder, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Not only smoking but exposure to second-hand smoke may also increase your risk.
b) Diet and Exercise Habits:
Your diet also affects your cancer risk. People eating a high amount of red meat, processed foods, saturated fats, and sugary foods are more likely to develop cancer than those eating healthy and nutritious foods, such as leafy greens, whole grains, and fruits. Living a sedentary lifestyle can also negatively affect your risk of having cancer. It’s advisable to be physically active. This will keep your weight and hormones in check.
c) Alcohol Consumption:
Another preventable risk factor of cancer is alcohol consumption. Alcohol is linked to a heightened risk of throat, mouth, esophageal, colorectal, and liver cancer.
iii) Environmental Exposures
Certain environmental factors, such as sunlight and radiation, can expose you to carcinogens, thus increasing your risk of developing melanoma and other types of cancers. Exposure to toxins in the workplace can also contribute to your risk.
iv) Age and Gender
Most patients get cancer after 50, as DNA damage occurs over time. Cancer risk also depends on gender. Women are more likely to develop breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer, while men are at an increased risk of colorectal, prostate, and lung cancer. That said, young people can also develop it. It’s best to visit the cancer hospital in Navi Mumbai for regular screenings.
v) Medical History
People who have had cancer before are more likely to develop it in the future. Certain types of infections, such as HPV, can heighten your risk. Weakened immunity is also associated with an increased risk of cancer, as it makes you more prone to infections. That’s all about the factors affecting your risk of getting cancer. Although you can’t completely eliminate the risk, certain factors that heighten your risk can be controlled.