Cancer Causes & Risk Factors

The leading risk factor is the one we all dread: growing older. Although cancer can occur at any age, most cancers are diagnosed in people over 65, when cells begin to deteriorate and the natural protective mechanisms begin to fail. Full Answer

Doctors know that there are some cancers caused by a defective gene that can be passed down from an affected parent. For example, hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer occur when a women inherits the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene. Not all cancers that run... Full Answer

Viruses and bacteria don't cause many cancers, but there are a few noteworthy sexually transmitted infections that play a major role. A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of almost all cervical cancers and some cancers of the anus, vagina,... Full Answer

Diets high in processed meats contain preservatives like nitrates, which act like carcinogens in your body and damage healthy DNA. Damaged DNA is a breeding ground for cancer cells. Studies show that eating as little as one to three slices of processed... Full Answer

Any type of abnormal growth in the body is called a tumor, whether it is determined to be cancerous (malignant) or non cancerous (benign). Malignant tumors are fast growing and likely to spread to other parts of the body quickly, while benign tumors are... Full Answer