• Question: how is cancer occuring?

    Asked by to Edward, Ian, Mathew, Naomi, sakshisharda on 23 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Sakshi Sharda

      Sakshi Sharda answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hello jcocking
      Cancer occurs because we age! Well that is simplistically put.

      It’s a really complicated disease which scientists are still working on to understand. Cancer is increasing these days, because of other reasons. Exposure to environmental pollutants causes changes in the DNA that may lead to harmful effects such as accumulation of toxins or production of faulty proteins. This leads to cancer, mechanisms of how this happens are very complex. Cancer involves many organ systems and at a later stage if it’s malignant, it becomes lethal.

    • Photo: Naomi Osborne

      Naomi Osborne answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Cancer occurs when our cells reproduce uncontrollably – our normal cycle of cell division goes wrong. When we get older, the chances of this happening increases, but it also can be caused by viruses, genetic factors and a poor lifestyle that increases the risk of our DNA being damaged. When our DNA becomes damaged, our cells may get the wrong message and can’t stop dividing, which leads to cancer.

      Cancer is nature’s way of paving room for our offspring – which is why the chances of getting it increases with age. We are getting better at diagnosing and treating cancer though, and half of cancer patients live at least another 10 years now, which is likely to get longer 🙂

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