Hyderabad: What causes cancer? This is the big question that has been haunting the medical community for years as no one really knows what’s causing the deadly disease.
But the rising incidence of cancer in “healthy individuals” — who have had no previous triggers or were considered not at risk — is particularly baffling and doctors say it could be the result of environmental factors such as pesticide contamination in the food chain, adulteration and cooking methods.
But such factors seem to be affecting only a few and have had no major impact on the total number of cases.
“It has been determined that food and dietary habits do have a role to play because recent studies have shown that in India, one in eight men are at risk. In women, it’s one in seven,” says Dr Sanjai Addla, a senior uro-oncologist in the city.
“In the West meanwhile, it is one in four men and one in three women. The biggest difference is the diet difference between the cultures. The West – with its use of processed meat, artificial flavours and high sugar content – runs a higher risk of cancer,” Dr Addla adds.
In a vegetarian diet, this risk is minimised but then there are other risks such as environmental pollution, exposure to chemicals, increased use of tobacco and alcohol and increasing obesity levels. These causal factors cannot be ignored.
Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, a senior oncologist, explains: “Recent studies have shown that women who are working at night are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Cosmetic implants cause cancer in 25 per cent of women who have used them. These are new triggers, apart from those who have been exposed to hormone-replacement therapies or radiation.”
A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet has been recommended by doctors but experts claim there’s no guarantee.
Dr Amit Jotwani, a senior oncologist, says: “We often come across cases in which cancer has caught a perfectly healthy individual. And this is despite regular exercise, intake of organic food and a diet rich in fibre and vitamins. This is the most baffling part. What we have understood so far is that there is something going wrong right at the gene level or within the DNA.” This problem is the likely cause of uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells, he adds.
Deadly environment
Tobacco consumption in any form (smoking, chewing, nasal)- linked to oral, throat, lung, bladder, stomach cancer.
Alcohol consumption: Liver, stomach cancer- The risk is multi-fold if smoking combines with alcohol consumption.
Air Pollution: Lung, bladder.
Radiation exposure: Skin, melanoma cancer
Occupational risks: Asbestos factories, textile dyeing etc.
Genetic alterations: Happens at the cellular level, no known cause
Hereditary gene mutations: Some cancer-causing genes may run in families- breast, ovarian cancer commonly
Preserved food: Red meat, pickles etc.
Obesity: Weight gain has been linked to colon cancer, breast cancer
Lack of regular exercise
Infections: Papilloma virus linked with cervix cancer, Hepatitis B virus linked with liver cancer, HIV linked with lymphomas, Kaposi sarcoma, EBV linked with nasopharynx cancer.
Healthy and fine, yet it strikes
- On the flipside, there have been cases where active smokers have not got cancers but the passive smoker has suffered from cancer.
- While UV rays of the sun cause skin cancer in the West, it is not found to do so the same in India.
- Many a times it has been found that vegetarians are suffering from aggressive cancers despite a diet rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Doctors say trouble begins at cellular levels
Genetic mutations causing cancer make up just five to 10 per cent of the cases and this number has largely remained a constant.
However, sporadic cases account for at least two-thirds of all cancers which is why doctors and scientists are increasingly studying mutations.
“Most of the cancers remain asymptomatic until the final stages. The patient may seem very healthy but there are changes happening inside the body which the immune system is fighting.
Which is why a lump or a growth must be immediately investigated. Non-healing ulcers, changes in bowel movements, excessive weight loss, indigestion, loss of appetite, prolonged cough, blood in the sputum, urine or stool must never be ignored. These investigations will help identify the disease early.”
Experts maintain that a cancer, if detected early, is easier to fight. Patients arriving early have also been able to retain a quality of life.
Unfortunately, many who come for treatment in the advanced stages are forced to undergo aggressive treatment and outcomes are not always positive. The cancer may have already affected organs.
