Written by admin on 2009-03-12T06:17:48+0000">March 12, 2009 – 6:17 am
Why Did I Get Cancer in the First Place?
Our bodies are made up of millions of cells that grow, divide, and die in an orderly, controlled manner. This dynamic balance allows us to grow hair and skin, maintain a healthy lining to our digestive tract and airway, respond to physical stresses, and repair injuries.
It is believed that most cancers start out as the loss of control of one single cell. A single cancer cell multiplies and becomes a group of cancer cells whose growth is not controlled by the body’s healthy cells, and the balance between cell division and cell death is lost. Over months to years, depending on the type of cancer cell, the cancer grows big enough to be detectable or cause problems.
What causes the first cancer cell to become cancerous is still uncertain. Most likely, a series of events has to occur for that to happen. For example, the cell may be genetically predisposed but will not become cancerous unless it is exposed to certain substances or radiation.
For some cancers that seem to arise in multiple spots at once, there may be many cells that lose control at the same time and give rise to many cancers. These cells “at risk” may be exposed to the final “hit,” such as radiation or cancer-causing substance, at the same time, so they all become cancerous at the same time.
Now That I Am Done with Treatment, Do I Need to Look for a Cause for My Cancer?
If you have no obvious risk factors for your type of cancer, discuss with your doctor whether it would be worthwhile to look for something in your environment or diet that may have contributed to your developing your type of cancer—for something like asbestos, which is often associated with cancer of the lung lining. The reasons for this inquiry would be
•to ensure that you are not still exposed to something that is continuing to put you at risk for developing this cancer again
• to make sure others are not being exposed
• to provide data for future research
Nothing will change the fact that you had your cancer. Any effort to look for a cause should be geared toward improving future for you and others.
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