• Question: Why do you get cancer? Because they say anyone can get it so why do some people have it and others don't.

    Asked by Patricia Call to Carmen, Laura, Noel, Steph on 18 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Stephanie Dyson

      Stephanie Dyson answered on 18 Mar 2015:

      The body is constantly destroying growths that could have been cancer so in a way everyone already has it. It develops into a full tumour if the cells have genetic mutations that make them divide so quickly they can’t be controlled by the immune system. Things like smoking and being overweight increase the risk of these mutations happening therefore increasing the risk of cancer.

      Steph

    • Photo: Laura Garcia Ibanez

      Laura Garcia Ibanez answered on 19 Mar 2015:

      I agree with Steph. Also there are genetic factors that can make one person more prone to have cancer that other. Some mutations in specific genes.
      Cheers Patricia!

    • Photo: Carmen Denman

      Carmen Denman answered on 19 Mar 2015:

      Hi Patricia,
      Agreed with below, genetics can play a major role, for instance women can now be screened for a breast cancer gene that increases their likelyhood that they would develope the disease (this screening for the gene is what prompted angelina Jolie Pitt to have a mastectomy last year, which got a lot of press).

      Overall though, cancer is part of the human and animal ageing process, and the older we get the harder it is for our bodies to correct and overcome cancer cells, that is just a fact of life. Obviously lifestyle and environment play a role in whether people would get cancers or not, but it is so varied there is no real rule to avoid cancer. Maybe we will get vaccines for cancer one day, like the HPV vaccine that decreases risks of cervical cancer!

      Cheers,

      Carmen

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