As we grow older our risk of developing cancer increases with each passing year. According to the National Cancer Institute, fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 individuals occur in those younger than age 20. The incidence rises to 350 cases per 100,000 people in those aged 45-49. By age 60, more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 people occur with 66 years being the median age of a cancer diagnosis. In the younger age groups, incidence rates are significantly higher in females although in people ages 85-89 where the highest incidence of cancer is seen, males are significantly more likely to be affected..
Different types of cancer also occur in different age groups. While cancer occurs in less than one percent of children and adolescents, the risk of bone, brain, and other nervous system cancers in this age group is disproportionately high.
Genes, Mutations and Risk Factors
Researchers have discovered genetic mutations that are associated with more than 50 cancer syndromes. These mutations account for about 5-10 percent of all cancer cases. Various known risk factors play a larger role and frequently lead to mutations in immune system genes such as p53 that normally would protect against cancer. More than 50 percent of cancers, including mine, are caused by missing or damaged p53 genes. How do these mutations occur? The risk factors that lead to cancer are responsible for these mutations. Exposure to certain risk factors is associated with the development of certain specific cancers. For instance, according to the CDC, being overweight or obese is associated with 13 different cancers, and these cancers represent 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States.
Risk factors for cancer include:
Aging
Obesity
Radiation including radioiodine therapy and unprotected ultraviolet light exposure
Cigarette smoking, which causes increased methylation and gene mutations
Viral infections, particularly certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis viruses
Bacterial infections, particularly Helicobacter pylori
Excessive alcohol ingestion
Diets high in salted, pickled, smoked and preserved foods
Industrial chemical exposure
Personal or family history of cancer
Hormones
Immunosuppression
Environmental agents such as radon, and air/water pollution
Other risk factors are known to be specific for certain types of cancer. For instance the use of intrauterine devices is a risk factor for endometrial (uterine) cancer, and hormone replacement therapy and light exposure at night are risk factors for breast cancer.
Diagnosis and Warning Signs
An early diagnosis leads to more treatment options and lowers the risk of the cancer spreading to other organs (metastasis). Colonoscopies and laboratory tests for tumor markers (PSA, CA-125, CEA) are available but blood test results may be negative in advanced cancers and positive for reasons other than cancer so they’re not always utilized in meaningful ways. Too often, cancer is not detected until the condition is advanced. That’s where familiarity with warning signs can help.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Cancer Include:
Changes in bowel or bladder habits
Obvious changes in moles or warts (or the emergence of new warts)
Sores that fail to heal
Unusual bleeding, bruising or discharge
Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
Fever or night sweats
Vision or hearing problems
Mouth changes including sores, bleeding, pain or numbness
Weight loss or gain of 10 lbs or more with no causes
Belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
Pain that persists or fails to improve
Thickening, swelling, or lump in the breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
Nagging cough or hoarseness
Reducing Cancer Risk
While having regular mammograms and colonoscopies as recommended can help with early cancer detection, there is much that we can do to avoid our risk of developing cancer.
These include avoiding all forms of tobacco; incorporating a program of regular exercise to help maintain good immune function; maintaining a healthy weight; eating plenty of fruits and vegetables; limiting alcohol to no more than one drink/day for women and two drinks/day for men; protecting your skin; be aware of your family history and personal risk factors; study nutritional supplements and use them as needed.
For instance a 250 mg daily dose of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) is known to enhance cellular responses that reduce cancer cell viability and proliferation (Newell, Marnie et al. “A Critical Review on the Effect of Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) on Cancer Cell Cycle Progression.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Aug 2017).
Curcumin, ashwaganda, ginger, selenium, Vitamin D, Vitamin E are all known for their anti-cancer effects. Mushrooms added to diet or taken as supplements are also widely known for their role in cancer protection. Above all, a healthy plant-based diet with an array of brightly colored fruits and vegetables and an avoidance of refined sugars and grains is one of the first steps in cancer prevention. In my next article on epigenetics, learn how the expression of genes can be turned on or off.