Author: Kevin Mayor
Published: 2 January 2015
Source: http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/most-cancers-due-to-bad-luck-not-heredity-or-lifestyle/81250759/
Cancers are all caused by environment, heredity, and bad luck. However, most people with cancer are just unlucky. Cancer is caused by a mutation in DNA. The lifestyle and heredity of a person only influence the probability of the mutation and not the disease itself. Using tobacco and exposure to radiation only add the "bad luck" factor. DNA mutations are completely random. As a result, more resources should be focused on detecting cancer at an early stage. This is the most effective way to eradicate cancer.
This article relates to "Inherited" Cancer. The article says that cancer most likely won't be inherited from a parent. This is because the mutations passed onto children will only increase the risk of cancer. If a child receives a mutation, they will not necessarily develop cancer. Cancer is caused by mutations in DNA and influenced by genes and other mutagens.
If that is so, why do we go to such lengths to eliminate exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos (a strong, totally fireproof insulator linked to lung cancer) and radioactive substances? Most of the cancers are not caused by them, so why bother?
ReplyDeleteMutagens contribute to the risk of cancer, but not cancer itself.
DeleteIf exposure to unhealthy factors contribute to the "bad luck" factor, then doesn't that mean that people who often take part in those lifestyles are more likely to acquire a greater amount of "bad luck"? How do people get "bad luck" if there are no prompts for a chemical change to occur within the cells?
ReplyDeletePeople who take part in unhealthy lifestyles can get more "bad luck" because they are increasing the chance of a mutation happening in their cells. Just because a person isn't exposed to mutagens doesn't mean they won't get cancer. Mutations happen purely by chance, but you can lower that chance by living a healthy lifestyle and limit exposure to radiation.
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