What can cause cancer? Some substances may surprise you.
Dr. Wendy Zhou, ND
Cancer diagnosis is such a common thing amongst our society today. Equally as important, prevention of cancer formation is on a lot of people’s minds. Prevention is defined as reduction in exposure that are known risk factors; but it is not an absolute reduction in all risk factors. Absolute reduction is not realistic, but research can help us narrow down the list of things we can be aware of in order to support our goals.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 500 agents used commonly in our lives has been identified to be linked to have cause cancer. It is separated into groups based on the evidence of research:
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–129
| Group 1 | Carcinogenic to humans | 121 agents |
|---|---|---|
| Group 2A | Probably carcinogenic to humans | 89 agents |
| Group 2B | Possibly carcinogenic to humans | 319 agents |
| Group 3 | Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | 500 agents |
Chart Above: Classification according to International Agency for Research on Cancer by WHO. Taken from: https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agentsclassified-by-the-iarc/
Group 1 has a strong, direct link to cancer formation. Some highlighted substances in this category includes:
- Lifestyle choices (Alcoholic beverages, Postmenopausal excessive estrogen therapy or estrogen-progesterone therapy, smoking and second-hand smoking, processed meat, UV exposure between 100-400 in wavelength, tanning devices, many medications…etc)
- Various infections (H. Pylori, Epstein-Barr Virus, hepatitis, HIV… etc)
- Work environment (Aluminum production, Iron/steel manufacture, isopropyl alcohol manufacture, painter…etc)
- Environmental (Diesel engine exhaust fumes, air pollution.. etc)
Group 2A – Strong link to cancer, but may not be direct:
- Lifestyle Choices (High-temperature frying of foods, Anabolic steroid use, red meat consumption…etc)
- Work Environment (Hairdresser, barber, night-shift work…etc)
- Various Infections (Malaria)
Group 2B – possibly a link to cancer, established, but not always replicated in research:
- Work Environment (carpentry and joinery, dry cleaning, firefighter etc)
- Environmental (gasoline engine exhaust fumes, electromagnetic fields etc)
- Lifestyle Choices (Implanted foreign bodies of metal such as and not limited to: cobalt, nickel, chromium, iron…etc)
It is important to realize that cancer prevention is not just on an individual base, but also the community. From our choices to public health policies, we need to look at laws for ourselves as well as our communities to protect our vulnerable populations as well as ourselves.
As naturopathic doctors, we are here to help you recognize and modify risk factors – the ones that are within our control. There will always be non-modifiable risk factors such as a person’s genetic hereditary profile, prior carcinogen exposure, aging…etc), but there are many that we can change (eating healthy, sleeping well, exercise, proper BMI, nutrient-dense diet). Let’s start the conversation!