Causes of Cancer By: Areana Eckman Valerie Hart Ashley Schuld Brandon Meade

What is Cancer? Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

What causes cancer? Tobacco Sunlight/Tanning Alcohol Poor diet, lack of physical activity Family history of cancer Certain hormones Growing older Sexual activity Infections Viruses & bacteria Environmental exposure

Tobacco Some of the chemicals that could cause cancer are: Arsenic Benzene Beryllium (a toxic metal) Butadiene (a hazardous gas) Cadmium (a toxic metal) Chromium (a metallic element) Ethylene oxide Nickel (a metallic element) Polonium-210 (a radioactive chemical element) Vinyl chloride Other toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke are suspected to cause cancer, including the following: Formaldehyde Toluene

Sunlight Some of the ultraviolet rays from the sun sink past the o-zone and into our skin. Skin cancer is caused from the sun, usually from sunbathing, tanning, or using a tanning bed.

Alcohol Having more than two drinks each day for many years increases the chance of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, liver, and breast. For most of these cancers, the risk is higher for a drinker who uses tobacco.

Poor diet, lack of physical activity People who have a poor diet, do not have enough physical activity, or are overweight may be at increased risk of several types of cancer.

Family History Most cancers develop because of mutations in genes. Factors in a person's lifestyle or environment can cause such changes in certain types of cells.Some gene changes that increase the risk of cancer are passed from parent to child. However, certain types of cancer do occur more often in some families than in the rest of the population. However, environmental are also involved. Most of the time, multiple cases of cancer in a family are just a matter of chance.

Hormones People believe that the estrogen is responsible for the causes of breast cancer. Estrogen is a general term for female steroid sex hormones that are secreted by the ovary and responsible for typical female sexual characteristics. For years, estrogen has been a suspected carcinogen, since strong epidemiological evidence associates the hormone to breast, endometrial, and uterine cancers.Women who begin menstruating early, or who start menopause late, produce more estrogen over their lifetimes and have a higher risk of breast cancer.

Growing Older The most important risk factor for cancer is growing older. Most cancers occur in people over the age of 65. But people of all ages, including children, can get cancer, too.

SEXUALSEXUAL Human papillomaviruses / HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: Liver cancer can develop after many years of being infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C. ACTIVITYACTIVITY

Infections Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV- 1): Infection with HTLV-1 increases a person's risk of lymphoma and leukemia. Infection is what happens when germs (also called microbes or microorganisms) enter the body, multiply, and cause illness. The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, protozoa (parasites), and fungal organisms (also called fungi). Lung cancer is a disease which consists of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lungs.

Cancer bacteria are bacterial infectious organisms that are known or suspected to cause cancer. There is some evidence that bacteria may be directly carcinogenic. Viruses can help to cause some cancers. But this does not mean that these cancers can be caught like an infection. What happens is that the virus can cause genetic changes in cells that make them more likely to become cancerous.

Environmental Exposure

Steps to prevent cancer... Avoid smoking and exposure to smoke Stay out of the Sun for long periods of time NO tanning beds Eat fruits & vegetables Eat foods high in antioxidants Limit red meat and animal fat. Limit your alcohol usage Exercise Know your environment Practice safe sex No multiple sex partners Get check ups at your doctors appointments

Works Cited Page cancer / PhysicalSideEffects/InfectionsinPeoplewithCancer/infections- in-people-with-cancer