Carcinogens: Radiation

Technically speaking, radiation is the emission and/or transmission of energy; it includes electromagnetic radiation (radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and g rays) and particle radiation (α, β, and neutron radiation).

Radiation comes from many different sources.  In our everyday lives, sunshine probably provides the most radiation to us.  Although appropriate exposure to the sunshine provides a lot of beneficial effects, too much exposure of sunshine could increase the risk of cancer.  For example, on a high mountain or in a flight, one could be subject to more UV light; overexposure to UV light could increase the risk of skin cancer.

Another source of radiation is radon, which is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas emitted from radioactive materials in soil and underground water.  It is somewhat surprising that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Other type of radiation exposure, including x-ray medical examination and radiotherapy, might also increase the risk of cancer.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2015 

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.

Carcinogens: Chemicals

Theoretically, any chemical is potentially harmful and maybe carcinogenic if the concentration is high enough and the exposure is long enough.  Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid unnecessary chemicals if all possible.  However, some chemicals do have higher tendencies to intervene DNA replication or cell metabolism; these are generally referred to as carcinogenic chemicals.  Specific examples of chemical carcinogens (some are from natural source) include asbestos, arsenic, dioxins, benzene, tobacco, formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, etc.

In general, most people don’t often get in touch with these specific substances unless they work in chemical or related industry.  However, we are often under the exposure of certain chemicals and may not realize it.  For example, we need to go to the gas stations on a regular basis and it has been reported that long-term exposure of gasoline vapor increased the risk of lung, nasal, or kidney cancer; the risk of cancer was related to the chemicals in the gasoline vapor including benzene.  The good news is that most people are not under the long-term exposure of gasoline vapor; nevertheless, I do think it is a good idea not to stand right next to the nozzle to inhale the gas vapor when you pump your gas.

Let’s look at one specific example of carcinogenic chemicals, dioxins.  Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds found throughout the world in the environment; they may accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals.  Most of human exposure is through food, mainly meat, dairy products, fish, and shellfish.  Dioxins are highly toxic and may cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones, and also cause cancer.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2015

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.

How Does a Person Get Cancer?

Certain cancers are due to inherited genetic reasons, but most cancers are due to environmental factors and personal activities.  Indeed, a very small percentage of people may inherit certain genes that have higher tendencies to result in certain cancers.  Unfortunately, no one can choose his/her parents.  For these cancers, specific surgeries or therapies may be applied to the patients.  Furthermore, individualized medicine based on genetic characteristics is being developed and is gradually becoming a reality.

On the other hand, vast majority of people don’t have the inherited problematic genes; thus it is great news for most people.  However, just like nothing is guaranteed in real life, there is no guarantee that nothing will go wrong on life cycles of cells.  Let me elaborate a little more as follows.

In everyone’s lifetime, differentiated normal cells and stem cells in the body have to go through many cell cycles for cell growth and replication.  During the processes, there are many factors that can affect the microenvironment surrounding the cells, thus, the health of the cells.  If a person maintains a healthy microenvironment for the cells, it is very likely that the cells will grow and replicate in a normal manner and the chances for them to become cancerous are low.  However, if the cells are subject to an environment producing significant/sustained stress (chemicals, pH, temperature, etc.), there will be a higher probability for something to go wrong in the cell cycles, which may result in some cells to become abnormal or even cancerous.

Any substances that cause the stress and result in higher cancer risks are generally referred to as carcinogens.  Carcinogens can damage/modify certain genes and/or disrupt cellular metabolic/replication process and significantly increase the risk of cancer.  Because high-energy radiation could also cause cancer, it could be categorized as a carcinogen.

If someone is exposed to carcinogens frequently, there is a higher chance for the person to get cancer. On the other hand, if one can avoid carcinogens as much as possible, one can greatly reduce the risk of getting cancer.

In addition to carcinogens, there are a number of risk factors of cancer; many of them are controllable.  If one can pay attention to these factors, once can greatly reduce the chance of getting cancer.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2015 

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.