There are many different types of cancers. Every cancer, regardless of the type, begins in your genes.
Whether you are at risk of cancer will depend on a variety of factors, some which you can control, and others which you cannot.
Is cancer genetic?
A single mutation will not commonly cause cancer. A cancer is more likely to occur from multiple gene mutations that may occur over a period of time.
The genetic changes or mutations that cause cancer can be caused by a number of different factors including:
Ageing
Cancer can occur at any age. However as we grow older, there is a higher likelihood of more mutations occurring in our cells. There is also more likely to be a higher exposure to the agents that cause cancer happening over time as we age.
In Australia, around one in three men and one in four women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 75. One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85 years. 1
Carcinogens
These are substances that are known to trigger the genetic mutations that cause cancer. Carcinogens do not always cause cancer in every person. There are many factors that determine whether a person who has been exposed to a carcinogen will get cancer.
Some examples of known carcinogens are the chemicals in tobacco smoke and asbestos and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Some carcinogenic substances only cause cancer depending on what type of exposure or how much exposure a person has had to them.
Inherited genes
Approximately 5 -10% of cancers are hereditary.3
Hereditary cancer occurs when damaged or faulty genes are present in the reproductive cells (sperm and egg cells) which are subsequently passed down from parents to children.
People in families who carry these mutated genes will not always get cancer, but their risk of developing cancer during their lifetime is higher than average.
Some hereditary cancers are strongly linked with a specific gene, for example the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are known to be linked to the development of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers.
Viruses, bacteria and parasites
Certain viruses, bacteria and parasites can cause cancers. An example is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is a common cause of cervical cancer.
ReferencesReferences
For a full list of references, click here.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Cancer In Australia 2019. Retrieved on 23 April 2020 from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-australia-2019
- The Biology of Aging and Cancer: A Brief Overview of Shared and Divergent Molecular Hallmarks, Aging Dis. 2017 Oct; 8(5): 628–642, Jan R. Aunan,William C Cho,and Kjetil Søreide
- American Cancer Society. (2018). Family Cancer Syndromes. Retrieved on 23 April 2020 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/family-cancer-syndromes.html
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