By Dr Joel Enejeta
A lot of people believe that getting cancer is purely dependent on genes, fate, bad luck or witchcraft (mostly Africans) but researchers have shown that risk actually depends on combination of multiple factors such as genes, lifestyle environment, kind of job of which many we can control.
The primary cause of cancer is as a result of damage to DNA, a substance which controls the proliferation and division of cells in the body. Things in our environment such as UV rays or our lifestyle such as smoking tobacco which contain cancer causing chemicals can damage our DNA. The damage over time builds up. When damage to DNA is too much, cells can start multiplying without control and this leads to cancer.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANCER, FAMILY HISTORY AND INHERITED GENES
Some people inherit damaged DNA from their parents which can increase their risk of developing certain cancers such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes which are associated with breast, ovarian prostate and other forms of cancer but the proportion of cancer caused by inherited faulty genes are small while a lot has been caused by what we expose ourselves to which can be controlled and prevented.
HOW MANY CANCER CASES CAN BE PREVENTED?
More than 5 in about 10 cancer cases can be prevented by lifestyle modifications. some Cancers can be prevented by adhering to the following rules.
- Avoiding smoking
- Reducing the intake of alcoholic beverages
- Not been overweight
- Be active
- Eating a healthy and balanced diet
- Avoid certain infections such as HPV, Hepatitis infection.
- Avoid been exposed to excessive UV rays
- Avoid cancer risk in work place
- Avoid unnecessary exposure to xrays
(10)Get about 15 minutes of sun daily