There are many causes and indirect risk factors for cancer, and the goal of current research is to diagnose them.
In fact, as cancer research UK explains, the “biggest” preventable cause for all 13 types of cancer is supported by “strong” evidence.
Cancer statistics create a sense of despair: anyone can catch a deadly disease. However, look closely and you will find that there are countless ways to adjust your risk.
The NHS warns that “cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for more than 70% of cases.”
According to Cancer Research UK, “Strong scientific evidence shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 13 types of cancer”.
In fact, the charity says, “Obesity is the biggest cause of cancer after smoking.”
It causes the following types of cancers:
Breast and bowel (two of the most common types of cancer).
Pancreatic, esophageal and gallbladder (three most difficult cancers to treat).
Uterus and uterus.
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Kidney, liver and upper abdomen.
Myeloma (a type of leukemia).
Meningioma (a type of brain tumor).
Thyroid.
How does obesity cause cancer?
Cancer Research UK explains: “Excess body fat is not just there, it’s active, sending signals to other parts of the body. These signals can often divide cells in our body, leading to infection. With cancer.”
Signals from fat cells can affect:
• Growth hormones – Excess body fat intake leads to high levels of growth hormone, which in turn leads to increased cell division. This increases the chance of cancer cells forming.
• Inflammation – When there are excess fat cells in the body, the immune cells travel to that area and remove the dead fat cells. This can lead to inflammation, causing the cells to divide rapidly. Over time, this can increase the risk of developing cancer.
Sex hormones – After menopause, fat cells secrete estrogen. This causes the cells in the breast and uterus to divide more often, increasing the risk of cancer.
These are the main methods that scientists have identified so far, but research on the ways in which excess body fat can cause cancer continues to be discovered.
The term obesity refers to someone who is overweight or obese. The most commonly used way to check if you are at a healthy weight is your body mass index (BMI), which measures whether your weight is appropriate for your height.
How to help lose weight
The Macmillan Cancer Support Group says that eating a healthy, balanced diet promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of certain cancers.
The charity explains: “Eating lots of fiber-rich foods can help reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Red and processed meat is associated with an increased risk of bowel and prostate cancer.”
Source: Express
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