Cancer's Random Assault
Many people are aware that cancer arises from within, and that random genetic mutations are an underlying cause in the formation of cancerous tumors. However, recently conducted research shows that random mutations may account for two-thirds of the risk of getting many types of cancer, leaving the usual suspects — heredity and environmental factors — to account for only one-third.
The central focal point of the research were stem cells. In any tissue, the more stem cells present, and the more divisions that occur, the greater the likelihood there is for a mutation to occur. For instance, the cancer risk in the large intestine is 24 times higher than that of the small intestine, and this is based solely on the fact that the stem cells of the large intestine divide 73 times a year, compared to 24 in the small intestine.
With this information, many doctors believe it a good idea to switch focus from preventative measures, and towards developing better cancer testing, which would allow for earlier detection. Of course, there are cases such as skin and lung cancer which are influenced very largely by the environmental factors of sun damage and smoking. There are also those cancers that do not correlate with stem cell division, such as thyroid cancer, which is impacted more by heredity.
I found this to be an interesting perspective on cancer, especially since the researchers believed this "bad luck" to actually be good news for many cancer patients, leaving them with the fact that their lifestyle may not have had as large of an impact on cancer development as they once thought. It lets us know that there are certain things that are out of our control, and all we can do is try to lead a fun and healthy life, without worrying too much.
Main article: Cancer's Random Assault
Secondary Article: Science Magazine
The central focal point of the research were stem cells. In any tissue, the more stem cells present, and the more divisions that occur, the greater the likelihood there is for a mutation to occur. For instance, the cancer risk in the large intestine is 24 times higher than that of the small intestine, and this is based solely on the fact that the stem cells of the large intestine divide 73 times a year, compared to 24 in the small intestine.
With this information, many doctors believe it a good idea to switch focus from preventative measures, and towards developing better cancer testing, which would allow for earlier detection. Of course, there are cases such as skin and lung cancer which are influenced very largely by the environmental factors of sun damage and smoking. There are also those cancers that do not correlate with stem cell division, such as thyroid cancer, which is impacted more by heredity.
I found this to be an interesting perspective on cancer, especially since the researchers believed this "bad luck" to actually be good news for many cancer patients, leaving them with the fact that their lifestyle may not have had as large of an impact on cancer development as they once thought. It lets us know that there are certain things that are out of our control, and all we can do is try to lead a fun and healthy life, without worrying too much.
Main article: Cancer's Random Assault
Secondary Article: Science Magazine
I found this article to be quite informative. I found it interesting that only 1/3 of cancers are hereditary and environmental. The remaining incidences are considered random mutations or just bad luck. I'm not sure if I completely buy into that- I wonder if more of those incidences are infact environmental, and perhaps we just don't have the resources or technology available to explain these particular incidences.....
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