Women and Cancer - Causes

What causes Cancer?

Though the exact cause is unknown, there are various theories on what could lead to the condition. The viral theory says that a cell becomes cancerous when infected by a virus. The immunological theory says that an abnormal cell survives to become a cancer because the body's defenses somehow break down. The chemical theory rests on the evidence from animal tests that certain chemicals cause cancer by altering the genetic make-up of a cell. These are known as carcinogens; tobacco smoke is one. Relation is also known to cause cancer. Cancer has many causes, some of which are still unknown.


However, research on cancer continues. Using the molecular data from the Human Genome Project, scientists at the Cancer Research Center at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have identified the gene-rhoC-that causes cancer cells to break away from the original tumor and form new tumors in other parts of the body. This gene triggers the sequence of events that lead to a secondary tumor.

Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Dr. Reeja Tharu. (2023, July 07). Women and Cancer - Causes. Medindia. Retrieved on Dec 22, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/women-and-cancer-causes.htm.

• MLA

  Dr. Reeja Tharu. "Women and Cancer - Causes". Medindia. Dec 22, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/women-and-cancer-causes.htm>.

• Chicago

  Dr. Reeja Tharu. "Women and Cancer - Causes". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/women-and-cancer-causes.htm. (accessed Dec 22, 2024).

• Harvard

  Dr. Reeja Tharu. 2023. Women and Cancer - Causes. Medindia, viewed Dec 22, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/women-and-cancer-causes.htm.