Is Cancer Random?

Scientists suggest that many causes of cancer are caused by a Random Genetic Mistake, or mutation, that occurs when healthy cells divide. According to a study random mutations may account for two-thirds of the risk of many types of cancer leaving the "usual" suspects to account for one-third. Researchers Cristian Tomasetti and Dr. Bert Vogelstein suspected that chance had a role but didn't expect the results to be this extent. The phenomena went beyond their expectations, being about double what they thought it would be. Dr. Tomasetti and Dr. Vogelstein say "finding that so many cases of cancer occur from random genetic accidents means that it may not be possible to prevent them". According to them there should be more of an emphasis on developing better tests to find cancers earlier enough to cure them. And since cancer leaves a signal of its presence we just have to become smarter about how to find them.

I found this article interesting because I believe it to be true. For a while I've believed that some cases of cancer could be caused by a random genetic mutation. And although other outside sources cause cancer, for example Cigarettes increase your chances for lung cancer. But there's that word Chance. The possibility, it's not a sure thing and a majority of people know someone who has been an avid smoker for most of their life and doesn't have lung cancers as well as someone that has never smoked a day in their life and has, by chance, obtained cancer. 

Cancer's Random Assault

Cancer's Random Assault

Many people are aware that cancer arises from within, and that random genetic mutations are an underlying cause in the formation of cancerous tumors. However, recently conducted research shows that random mutations may account for two-thirds of the risk of getting many types of cancer, leaving the usual suspects — heredity and environmental factors — to account for only one-third. 

The central focal point of the research were stem cells. In any tissue, the more stem cells present, and the more divisions that occur, the greater the likelihood there is for a mutation to occur. For instance, the cancer risk in the large intestine is 24 times higher than that of the small intestine, and this is based solely on the fact that the stem cells of the large intestine divide 73 times a year, compared to 24 in the small intestine. 

With this information, many doctors believe it a good idea to switch focus from preventative measures, and towards developing better cancer testing, which would allow for earlier detection.  Of course, there are cases such as skin and lung cancer which are influenced very largely by the environmental factors of sun damage and smoking. There are also those cancers that do not correlate with stem cell division, such as thyroid cancer, which is impacted more by heredity. 

I found this to be an interesting perspective on cancer, especially since the researchers believed this "bad luck" to actually be good news for many cancer patients, leaving them with the fact that their lifestyle may not have had as large of an impact on cancer development as they once thought. It lets us know that there are certain things that are out of our control, and all we can do is try to lead a fun and healthy life, without worrying too much.  

Main article: Cancer's Random Assault
Secondary Article: Science Magazine