Cancer is an abnormal growth of tissues known to cause many health problems when it strikes. It is an epidemic of the modern times that is dreaded and feared by many due to its effects on health.
The treatment approach has remained the same over the years :- cut (surgery), burn radiation, and chemotherapy. Many advances have are in place in those main ways, the survival rate and quality of life after a cancer diagnosis has not changed significantly. Despite of the efforts put in place, there has been increased cases of more cancers in the world. In other instances, cases previously found in older people are being seen in other younger ages. The big question remains why is this despite the advances in health care?
Cancer has been considered a genetic disease where changes in genes that control how the cells grow, divide and self destruct are changed. These mostly are due to environmental factors such as chemicals, toxins exposure diet, just to mention causing insult to the DNA .Some genes are inherently faulty and are passed on to siblings of the carrier. Some of the most well recognized genes are the BRCA for certain breast cancers. Luckily such represent less than 10% of all the cancers. Meaning the big burden of most of the cancers is modifiable since most development depends on environmental factors of which some if not all we have control!
There is a new scientific body of knowledge on environmental issues playing a big role in growth of cancer called epigenetics,
Epigenetic is the study of biological systems that make genes to be turned on or turned off. Basically these are additions or omissions in the expression of genes that influence whether disease happens or not. These are mediated by environmental aspects such as diet, stress, chemicals, and toxins.
Are you saying that my lifestyle is key in determining whether I get cancer or not?
Precisely, yes you can fuel your body to cancer or make it inhabitable to cancer.
So if you eat nutrients dense foods, handle stress effectively, help the body eliminate toxins, keep hormones controlled in a personalized way as per your unique self that’s the key.
Stages of cancer
Initiation
This occurs when normal cells or stem cells after some insult to the DNA mostly by environmental factors also known as carcinogens cause permanent changes to the gene. These changes make those particular cells prone to develop into cancer cells. Mostly the body is able to destroy such cells but if they divide, the daughter cells are still prone to cancer. The changes are irreversible but the good news is that they remain in that state unless triggered into the next step.
Promotion
After the above, the initiated cells are susceptible to growing more daughter cells if some promoters are present. They occur in two groups, Specific promoters which target only particular cells or certain receptors. on specific promoters which attach to any initiated cell .These cause proliferation or increase in cells thus forming a mass which is normally diagnosed as a tumour.These cells are reversible and most excitingly, respond to dietary changes. Studies have shown most animal proteins tend to be promoters while plant based nutrients are antioxidants and tend to be antipromoters thus an observation that cancer progresses or regresses consequently. The difference in some individuals getting cancer while others don’t is dependent on their diet and other lifestyle.
Progression
These occur when the cell masses extend to other local areas and remotely through the lymphatic or blood normally referred as metastasis.
Solution
Modern approach including preventive measures is necessary. regular wellness check proper dieting and exercises will be essential.