| Cancer is a disorder of genes. Genes are a small part | | | | 5. Unbalanced Diet : Alteration in the diet of the |
| of DNA which are made up of proteins. The genes | | | | people is a major cause of cancers. About 35% of |
| mainly produce proteins which are involved in | | | | the cancers caused are due to imbalanced diet and |
| controlling cell growth and division. But due to errors | | | | that too due to excessive intake of food. Over |
| or mutations(a sudden change), the abnormal change | | | | eating causes Obesity which is responsible for many |
| in the no. of cell divisions occurs and this increases to | | | | type of cancers like cancers of Breast, Colon, |
| an uncontrollable change. This change is called a | | | | Rectum, Pancreas, Prostrate, Gall Bladder, Ovaries |
| "Tumor". There are two types of tumors : Benign | | | | and Uterus. |
| and Malignant. | | | | 6. Hazards in Occupation: People in occupation |
| Benign tumor is not considered as a cancer but | | | | involved in working of elements that are a cause of |
| Malignant is considered as a Cancer. | | | | cancers are about 4% of all cancer deaths. |
| Cancers are also of many types mainly caused at | | | | A few types of cancers and their occupational |
| different specific regions of the body and have | | | | hazards are listed here that are reported by |
| different general causes. | | | | researchers:a) Lung cancer is caused due to excess |
| The following are the factors that cause Cancer : | | | | of Asbestos exposure.b) Bladder cancer mainly in |
| 1. Tobacco : Eighty to ninety percent of cancers are | | | | Dye, rubber and gas workers.c) Skin and Lung cancer |
| due to tobacco usage, mainly smoking. Smoking is | | | | in smelter, gold miners and arsenic workers.d) |
| shown to cause cancers in noticeable parts of the | | | | Leukemia(Blood Cancer) in Glue and varnish |
| body like the Respiratory tract, Esophagus, Larynx, | | | | workers.e) Lung cancer in PVC manufactures.f) |
| Bladder, Pancreas and liver, kidney and stomach also | | | | Uranium miners are effected with Lung cancer and |
| in a few cases. | | | | bone marrow cancer. |
| 2. Alcohol : Alcohol is the major factor involved in the | | | | 7. Environmental cause: Radiations from the sun, |
| cause of Liver cancer. If alcohol and tobacco are | | | | especially UV radiation isresponsible for 1-2% of all |
| taken together, then they are the major risk factors | | | | cancer deaths. Other sources of harmful radiations |
| in the cause of Mouth, Pharynx, Larynx and | | | | are X rays, Radon gas, and radiations from nuclear |
| Esophageal cancers. | | | | material. |
| 3. Sexual Behavior : A virus called as Human Papilloma | | | | 8. Infectious agents: Scientists have shown evidences |
| Virus, is known to cause cancer of the Cervix. This is | | | | that about 15% of all cancer deaths are resulted |
| sexually transmitted between the individuals. Also | | | | after infections from bacteria, virus and other |
| women who are without children are usually having | | | | parasites. |
| risk of Ovarian or Breast Cancer. | | | | 9. Through generations: A few types of cancers are |
| 4. Pollution : The main polluting agent which is closely | | | | caused generation to generation in the same families. |
| related to cause of cancers is Asbestos particles. The | | | | Eye cancer, Breast cancer and a type of colon |
| other dangerous cause of cancer from pollution is | | | | cancer are continued generation after generation in |
| from the chemicals that are released from the | | | | certain families. |
| sewage released from the industries. The chlorine | | | | Out of these causes a few can be prevented and a |
| added to water also is a minor cause of Cancer. Only | | | | few can not be prevented as they might be |
| one percent of cancer deaths are due to Pollution. | | | | transferred by genes in the family. |