Skip to content
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Two-thirds of cancers may have a surprising cause that we can do nothing about

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
New study makes a surprising claim about cancer cause.

If you are afraid of cancer, we have bad news. There may be little way to avoid the dreaded disease. A new study affirms that two-thirds of cancer cases are caused by random mutations in cells, and there is nothing that can prevent these from happening.

Scientists have found that two-thirds of all cancer cases may be the result of random, bad-luck mutations.

Scientists have found that two-thirds of all cancer cases may be the result of random, bad-luck mutations.

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/24/2017 (6 years ago)

Published in Health

Keywords: cancer, cause, cases, environmental, random, mutation, genetic

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- We all know that certain behaviors increase our risk of cancer, such as smoking. We also know some cancers can be the result of genetic problems, passed on from previous generations.

We have taken steps to educate and prevent these cancers. Smokers are asked to stop smoking, people avoid exposure to carcinogens, and in some cases people can elect for elective procedures and aggressive screening. But there is a third cause, which is probably the most likely cause of most cancers, and it is random error.

Most cells copy themselves, growing and dividing into two. As this happens, the DNA inside them copies itself. Occasionally, while copying itself a mistake can occur in the DNA. Think of a person copying a document by hand and making a small spelling error in the process.


In most cases, these errors are detected by the body and the cell either dies on its own, or it is attacked by the immune system. In some cases, the cells survive despite their defects. They begin reproducing out of control, crowding out healthy cells and spreading throughout the body. Eventually they cause healthy organs to fail and the patient dies.

The new research finds that as many as two-thirds of cancers are caused by random mutations in DNA, and not environmental or genetic factors.

The red ares show how likely a cancer is to be caused by random mutations. Red means such cancers are more likely to be random.

The red ares show how likely a cancer is to be caused by random mutations. Red means such cancers are more likely to be random.


Some kinds of cancer, like lung cancer are caused by environmental factors. Only about a third of lung cancers were caused by random factors. But others such as prostate and brain cancers are caused by random mutations. About 95 percent of cases these cancers are caused by random mutations.

The research still requires more peer review, but it likely to change the way we approach cancer prevention and education.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.