Why Cancer and Lifestyle?
People often assume that getting cancer is the result of bad genes or bad luck. But our true risk depends on a combination of our genes, our environment and our day-to-day activities.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health), and is the term used for several related diseases, all characterized by damaged cell DNA. Cell DNA is the chemical instruction manual for our cells and, when DNA is damaged, cells behave in abnormal ways, such as living longer than usual, dividing uncontrollably and/or destroying healthy body tissues. These cell behaviors can result in cancer tumors and/or irregular blood test results.
Decades of scientific research have conclusively linked some lifestyle choices, such as whether to smoke or use sun protection, with cancer risk and diagnosis. Ongoing studies are trying to understand the effects of smoking and sun exposure on people who have already been diagnosed with cancer.
Beyond smoking and sun exposure, current research consistently shows that cancer risk and the outcomes following a cancer diagnosis are strongly influenced by lifestyle choices, including:
- What we eat
- How much we eat
- How active we are
- How much alcohol we consume
One of the strongest lifestyle factors linked with cancer is obesity. The exact reasons for this are not clear, but it is known that extra fat tissue produces hormones and other chemicals that change the way our cells work. Obesity also increases inflammation. Collectively, these factors may increase the likelihood that our cell DNA will be damaged and cancer will develop. More research is needed to understand these processes better.
What we know for certain is that 18 percent of all cancer diagnoses expected in the U.S. in 2018 (excluding noninvasive cancers and nonmelanoma skin cancers) are potentially preventable through daily decisions we make regarding diet and physical exercise. That is 312,400 cancer diagnoses (according to the American Cancer Society, 2018) that may be avoided simply by understanding recommended changes and implementing them.
Other lifestyle factors also have potential to inform us about everyday choices that we can make to lower our cancer risk, including:
- How much sleep we get
- How much stress we experience
- How isolated we feel
- The health of our microbiome (the bacteria that live in our gut and on our skin)
- Whether we own pets
The Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle (CIRCL) team aims to produce, collect and communicate the latest scientific knowledge on cancers as they relate to lifestyle choices to empower people to make the changes necessary to lessen cancer risk for themselves and those they love. CIRCL actively engages in research areas related to cancer prevention and in finding new venues from which to communicate the results of our findings. Please contact us at circl@cshs.org for more information.
Have Questions or Need Help?
Contact us if you have questions, or wish to learn more about integrated research in cancer and lifestyle research at Cedars-Sinai.
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