Cancer Causes & Risk Factors

Asparagine is an amino acid (a building block of proteins) that is found in many vegetables, with higher concentrations in some varieties of potatoes. When heated to high temperatures in the presence of certain sugars, asparagine can form acrylamide.... Full Answer

Everyone is at risk for cancer.In this video, Dr. Oz and his expert panel (Dr. Lee, Dr. Cass, Dr. Richardson) dispel common myths about cancer. Full Answer

The 1982, the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, entitled The Health Consequences of Smoking: Cancer, stated that "Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality [death] in the United States." This statement is as true today as... Full Answer

A carcinogen is any substance that can cause cancer. Carcinogens do not cause cancer in every case. Some carcinogens may cause cancer only after a prolonged and high level of exposure. A number of national and international agencies conduct testing on... Full Answer

The cellular mutations that lead to cancer originate in two ways. First, mutations come from mistakes in the cell-division process. Second, mutations can occur when the DNA in a cell is damaged by an irritant like radiation or free radicals. In both... Full Answer

Cancer is all about subtle mutations in your genes that are busy reproducing cells for the day's activities. This spectacular machinery, complete with accelerators for when you need more cells and inhibitors for when you need to slow down, occasionally... Full Answer

A July 2009 study published in the medical journal "Lancet" found tanning beds as hazardous as noted carcinogens like arsenic and mustard gas. The study revealed that people who used tanning beds before the age of 30 are 75 percent more likely to develop... Full Answer

Chronic suppression of the immune system is known to increase the risk of certain cancers. This means that the immune system is not working as effectively as it should. Long-term suppression of the immune system has been observed in patients who... Full Answer

Wouldn't it be wonderful to step into Dr. Mehmet Oz's (Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University) Truth Tube and learn if you are at risk for certain cancers? Unfortunately, figuring out the cause of cancer has proven to be intensely... Full Answer

When many cases of cancer occur in a family, it is most often due to chance or because family members have been exposed to a common toxin, such as cigarette smoking. Less often, these cancers may be caused by an inherited gene mutation. (These are called... Full Answer