Over the years as technology has increased, diseases that were once thought to be incurable or the cause of major pandemics around the globe such as leprosy, smallpox and tuberculosis, have been almost entirely wiped out. However, there are still some diseases that continue to perplex science and have no guaranteed cure. One of the most well known and dreaded of them all is cancer.

Cancer is simply the term for a situation where cells begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably without dying until they form lumps or tumors that get bigger and bigger as the cells continue to grow and multiply. Cancer cells are so dangerous because they invade other tissues in the body and can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood. Also whereas normal cells grow, divide and die, cancer cells grow, divide but do not die.

The name that a cancer is given is based on where in the body it originates; for example colon cancer is so called because the cells originate in the colon, lung cancer cells originate in the lungs and so on.

It should be noted that not all tumors that form are cancerous. There are benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors don’t affect any other area of the body and they are often removed without problems and without recurrence; whereas malignant tumors are very invasive and can affect nearby tissues and spread to other areas of the body.

So what causes this abnormality in the cells? What makes some of them function normally while others form benign or malignant tumors?

The simple answer is that cell abnormalities are caused by mutated or damaged DNA which results in damaged or abnormal genes. Cancer occurs when the damage to the genes is such that the genes can no longer tell the body when to create, divide, kill or repair the cells. So cells are created when they are not needed and multiply without dying leading to the creation of tumors.

So what are some of the things that cause abnormalities in the DNA in the first place? One of the most well known causes of DNA abnormalities and therefore cancer, are carcinogens. Carcinogens are substances that cause damage to the DNA and help cancer cells to form and thrive. Some well known sources of carcinogens are tobacco, asbestos, arsenic and radiation. When carcinogens get into our system, they form free radicals that steal electrons from our molecules, resulting in damage to our DNA. The abnormalities in our genes may also be inherited.

So what can we do to prevent cancer? For some cancers, the answer is easier than for some. For skin cancer, the answer is to protect yourself from radiation whether from the sun or from x-rays. Choosing not to smoke or drink can significantly reduce the risk of several types of cancer including lung, mouth, liver and throat cancers. Food is another powerful weapon that should not be underestimated in the fight against cancer.