Today on the podcast, I’m tackling a big question: does everything cause cancer? In exploring this issue, I am going to break it down into three sub-questions: What is cancer? What causes cancer? And what can we do to prevent cancer? We hear about cancer-causing phenomena almost every day and it can leave us feeling powerless and overwhelmed. We know that the prevalence of cancer is extremely high, which makes it seem even scarier. Joining in the conversation, listeners will learn what cancer is, how it manifests in our bodies and the processes that ultimately lead to the disease. While there are factors, such as random genetic mutation and age, that we cannot prevent, there is plenty we can do to reduce our risk of developing cancer, including making healthy lifestyle choices and avoiding things that we know can increase our risk. Let’s dive in!
Key Points From This Episode
• We are bombarded with information about the things that can prevent or cause cancer.
• The prevalence of cancer, the most common types, and the countries that are at higher risk.
• Learn what happens at the cellular level when cancer develops.
• The relationship between the gene mutations you are born with and those you acquire.
• The two-step process of how cancer-causing gene mutations occur: initiation and promotion.
• Three major categories of carcinogens: chemical, physical, and viruses.
• Find out where the most common sources of chemical carcinogens are found.
• The viruses that are responsible for causing cancer and a vaccine that can prevent HPV.
• How genetics and age can contribute to the development of cancer.
• Why it is important for us to protect children from exposure to carcinogens.
Key Messages:
1. Cancer includes a large number of diseases that negatively impact cells.
2. Cancer develops in two steps: initiation and promotion.
3. The four main causes of cancer are carcinogens, genetics, random mutations, and age.
4. Reduce the risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices.
5. Support cancer research and people who are experiencing cancer.
6. Head to theunexpectedgiftbox.com to send a tailored gift in support of a friend.
Quotables:
“It seems that every other day we hear about one thing or another that causes cancer. Eat this; don’t eat that—it can be very confusing and overwhelming, right?” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:21]
“This all happens because of mutations to our genes, mutations that we are either born with or happen over our lifetime, or both.” — Kristina Hunter [0:07:20]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: