Other causes of cancer are not preventable.
Currently, the most significant
unpreventable risk factor is age.
According to the American Cancer
Society, doctors in the U.S. diagnose
87 percent of cancer cases in people
ages 50 years or older.
IS CANCER GENETIC?
Genetic factors can
contribute to the development
of cancer.
Tobacco use is the
leading preventable cause
of death in the U.S. Over
480,000 Americans die in
each year from smoking
A person's genetic
code tells their cells
when to divide and
expire. Changes in the
genes can lead to faulty
instructions, and cancer can
result. Genes also influence the
cells' production of proteins, and proteins
carry many of the instructions
for cellular growth and division. Some
genes change proteins that would
usually repair damaged cells. This can
lead to cancer. If a parent has these
genes, they may pass on the altered
instructions to their offspring. Some
genetic changes occur after birth, and
factors such as smoking and sun
exposure can increase the risk. Finally,
a person can inherit a predisposition
for a type of cancer. A doctor may
refer to this as having a hereditary
cancer syndrome. Inherited genetic
mutations significantly contribute to
the development of 5-10% of
cancer cases.
OUTLOOK
Improvements in
cancer detection, increased
awareness of
the risks of smoking,
and a drop-in tobacco
use have all contributed
to a year-on-year decrease
in the number of cancer
diagnoses and deaths. According
to the American Cancer Society, the
overall cancer death rate declined by
26% between 1991 and 2015. When
a person has cancer, the outlook
depends on whether the disease has
spread, its type, severity, and location.
It is advised to start making healthy
lifestyle choices now to help improve
your chances of avoiding a preventable
type of cancer.
cigarettes.
CANCERS BY GENDER | Some statistics.
MEN WOMEN
The most common cancers
diagnosed in men are prostate,
lung, and colorectal cancers.
Together, they account for
42% of all cases in men,
with prostate cancer alone
accounting for nearly 1 in 5 new cases.
The most common cancers
diagnosed in women are breast,
lung, and colorectal cancers.
Together, they account for onehalf
of all cases in women, with
breast cancer alone accounting
for 30% of new cases.
These cancers also account for the greatest numbers of cancer deaths.
One-quarter of all cancer deaths are due to lung cancer.
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