• Question: how is cancer caused

    Asked by sophie to Sinead on 14 Nov 2016. This question was also asked by Ava Kearns.
    • Photo: Sinead Loughran

      Sinead Loughran answered on 14 Nov 2016:

      Hi Sophie,

      Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes. The known causes of cancer include genetic factors; lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections; and environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation.

      Every cell in our body has a lifespan and is programmed to die after a certain period of time. If a change occurs inside a cell that makes it survive when it should normally die, then cancer can arise.

      Malignant cells (cancer cells) are able to evade death and continue to survive and divide.

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