Cancer

Cancer is the general term used to describe diseases in which cells that control growth and normal body functions become damaged and divide without control and invade other body tissues. Normally, the body creates new cells to replace old ones that die. Sometimes, new cells grow when you don’t need them and old cells don’t die. These extra cells can create a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Sometimes cancer spreads from one part of the body to another in a condition called metastasis.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), approximately 10.7 million Americans were living with cancer in 2005 (the most recent year that provided good estimates of this information). The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that in 2008, more than 1.4 million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed. Although there are more than 100 types of cancer, the most prevalent in the United States include, from most to least, the following:

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Melanoma of skin
• Urinary bladder
• Endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma

Although all cancers involve malfuncitons of genes involved in cell growth and division, only 5 percent of all cases are inherited; most cancers result from damage or mutation of genes caused by individual factors or the interaction of several factors. According to the NCI, the most common nongenetic risk factors for cancer include

• Aging
• Tobacco use
• Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and other sources
• Ionizing radiation (from x-rays and other sources)
• Certain chemicals, biological agents and other substances
• Some viruses and bacteria
• Certain hormones
• Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages every day for many years
• Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight

Diet and Lifestyle Prevention Recommendations

Like many disease, cancer is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, making its prevention a challenge. Nevertheless, the ACS estimates that making healthful dietary and lifestyle changes can prevent up to one third of all cancers. Several government and other organizations (including the ACS, the NCI, and others) have developed dietary and lifestyle recommendations and guidelines to help Americans substantially reduce their risks for developing cancer. These recommendations include the following:

• Achieving and maintaining a healthier or healthy weight (and avoiding unhealthy weight gain throughout life) by balancing calorie intake with physical activity.
• Adopting a physical active lifestyle that includes regular exercise.
• Eating a variety of healthful foods, especially plant foods.
• Choosing whole grains over refined grains and foods made with added sugars.
• Limiting consumption of processed and red meats; they contain nitrates and other carcinogens.
• If you drink alcoholic beverages, limiting intake. Alcohol is an established cause of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and liver and can also play a role in best and colorectal cancer.

Genes are basic units of heredity (transmission of genes from parent to child) made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Nitrates are preservatives that add flavor and color to cured meats such as hot dogs and bacon.

Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer.