Cancer Risk Factors
Your lifestyle choices significantly influence your cancer risk. Smoking introduces tar into your body, which damages cell DNA and can trigger uncontrolled cell division in the lungs, mouth, and other organs.
Environmental factors matter too. Exposure to carcinogens cancer−causingsubstances like asbestos or radiation such as UV rays can penetrate skin cells and damage DNA, potentially leading to tumour development.
Your weight also plays a role. Being overweight or obese increases cancer risk, particularly for breast cancer. Fat cells release oestrogen, a hormone that can accelerate the growth of certain cancer cells.
Important to remember: Some cancer risks are inherited. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes help control cell division, and mutations in these genes can be passed from parents to children, significantly increasing the risk of developing certain cancers.