Causes of cancer
In the most basic terms, cancer refers is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. Cells become cancerous due to the accumulation of defects, or mutations, in their DNA. Certain:
Causes of cancer
-inherited genetic defects (for example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations),
-infections
-Heredity
-Chemicals
-Radiation
-Physical agents
-Heredity
-Chemicals
-Radiation
-Physical agents
environmental factors (for example, air pollution), and
poor lifestyle choices -- such as smoking and heavy alcohol use -- can also damage DNA and lead to cancer.
Most of the time, cells are able to detect and repair DNA damage. If a cell is severely damaged and cannot repair itself it undergoes so-called programmed cell death or apoptosis. Cancer occurs when damaged cells grow, divide, and spread abnormally instead of self-destructing as they should.
Cancer Deaths In India
According to a study by The Lancet, breast, cervical and stomach cancers are responsible for the majority of cancer deaths among women in India, But lung, oral and stomach cancers are the leading causes of cancer death in Indian men.
In India, approximately 75% of individuals live in rural areas. However, estimated mortality rates for specific cancers have primarily been based on data from India's 24 urban population-based cancer registries, with only 2 registries representing rural areas.
The study was conducted by Professor Prabhat Jha, Center for Global Health Research, St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto, ON, Canada, and colleagues across India and worldwide.
As a result, the team set out to evaluate cancer mortality in the Million Death Study (MDS). The MDS is one of the few large, nationally representative studies (including rural areas) of the causes of mortality in any low- or middle-income country and is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India.
The researchers focused on the social and geographical variation in specific cancers, as well as the extent to which these cancers might be preventable by managing their causative agents or risk factors. The team discovered that of the 122,429 deaths reported in the study, 7,137 were caused by cancer. This figure is equal 556,400 cancer deaths across the entire country of India in 2010. Of these 556,400 deaths, 71% (395,000 [195,300 women and 200,100 men]) occurred in individuals aged between 30 and 69 years. For all age groups, the team found that cancer was responsible for 6% of the 2.5 million total male deaths and 1.6 million total female deaths, however, this figure rose to 8% among the 30-69 years age group.
According to the researchers, the three leading causes of cancer death in men aged 30-69 years were:
Lung cancer (including larynx and trachea) - 11% (22,900)
Oral cancer (including pharynx and lip) - 23% (45,800)
Stomach cancer - 13% (25,00)
For women aged 30-69 years, the three most common fatal cancers were:
Breast cancer - 10% (19,900)
Cervical Cancer - 17% (33,400)
Stomach Cancer - 14% (27,500)
Furthermore, 42.0% (84,000) of male cancer deaths at ages 30-69 years were tobacco-related as were 18.3% (35,700) of female cancer deaths, and that oral cancers were responsible for twice as many deaths as lung cancer. According to the team, this is partially due to the prevalent use of chewing tobacco in men and women.
