So who gets cancer?

I have always wondered about  micro plastics.
If it’s possible that it’s caused the increase in cancers. It’s in our food and the air we breathe.

We have sadly done that to ourselves  

When I was a child no one used plastic, food was seasonal and lots grown   The change in my life time is incredible 

Still whatever has caused it we just have to keep going and enjoy what we have

You're right Marianne!

It's always been the stigma if you smoke like a chimney, drink to excess and eat all the wrong foods and take little or no exercise you are a candidate for cancer but that's not always the case. As you said, no one really thinks of the air around them and the pollution from car exhausts etc or even the material some people have to work with on building sites etc. My own dad worked with asbestos years ago when he was a plumber on different sites and this material, I believe got banned but it was way too late for him when he got diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer it was unfortunately self-inflicted with him also in that he was a heavy smoker too sometimes chain smoked and salted a lot of his food he loved loads of salt on his food. My mum passed with bowel cancer she was a smoker too and my sister who neither smokes nor drinks got breast cancer 3 years ago and is cured. Hers got caught really early. The only one to miss it so far (touch wood!) is me. Think this is why I am so worried and scared for Jay now. His dad and brother both passed from cancer too. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33924934/

Not going to even pretend to understand this but when this question used to come up we had a poster who was a lecture in cancer biology . He would say it’s down to a mutation on P53 and it’s something to do with your DNA . It’s got a role to play in it . However what affects it I honestly don’t know .

Court 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33924934/

Not going to even pretend to understand this but when this question used to come up we had a poster who was a lecture in cancer biology . He would say it’s down to a mutation on P53 and it’s something to do with your DNA . It’s got a role to play in it . However what affects it I honestly don’t know .

Court 

It’s a mutation on P53 

Nice one court. I’m in the TRACC research they’re looking for DNA markers in my blood for future cancer sufferers the hope is a blood test will tell if there’s DNA markers for my type of cancer 

I was the number one to sign up last year full of enthusiasm, now I’m not sure if I’ll be rejected because I’ve got another primary sight small cell lung nothing to do with my bowel 

Only the future will say and the amount of progress that’s been made in Bowel and Lung is amazing also it’s how we react to the treatment. 
Im hoping for treatments and lots of it x

Positivity is the key to this thing.
Fight it body and mind and enjoy yourself in between!

Just having a thought Artsie  . It’s the in between days that propelled mum forward . They are very important days .

My friend used immunotherapy Keytrunda for small cell lung cancer . Given it’s also used in bowel cancer we were able to chat it through .

take care ,

Court 

I agree Court. I’ve not had any between days away since my reversal and blockage but once spring arrives I have a sunny spot in my front garden it’s perfect for a cup of tea and a bacon butty 

Im also booking a night away in February. Inspired by your Mum. Cancer is not consuming me after this weekend that’s it for the self pity. 
Im phoning my lung team on Friday to see what the plan is. They seem very nice and will know me well soon. 
Hope alls well with you and your family x

I used to work as a researcher on prostate cancer (quite a few years ago...). Cancer is caused by mutation in the DNA, specifically in genes that regulate cell division, such as p53. Every time a cell divide, to replace those that reach their end of life, DNA is copied and mistakes/mutations can be introduced. Although there is a proof-reading system, sometimes mistakes are missed. Some people may have genetic predisposition, which means their DNA already has changes that are inherited that put them closer to developing a cancer (less mutations are needed for the cell to become cancerous). Some environmental agents may increase the rate of mutation (processed food, especially meat, smoking, smoke from fat burning on the BBQ, pollutants etc.). However, mutations occur all the time and cancer may still develop without genetic predisposition or environmental factors, just bad luck! I was a vegetarian for years and ran a half marathon only weeks before my diagnosis...

Cecile

In my case, my Father, Paternal Uncle and Paternal Grandfather all had bowel cancer.  As it happens, I had a 6 monthly check up last week (18 months in) and mentioned to the nurse that I'd never seen the pathology report on my tumour.  I was interested to see, bearing in mind the strong family link, if my tumour had been tested.  My daughter was wondering if they had done any sequencing of mutations to establish whether or not they were somatic or hereditary as there's definite signs of a genetic predisposition. (She's a cancer scientist).  As I'm over 50 though, none of that had been done. I've never smoked, eat very little red or processed meat and try to stay active with lots of walking. The nurse basically said that it's likely been a rogue mutation that has replicated itself over many years.  However, she's signed me up for a Cancer Research Study looking at the genes of people in Scotland who have developed bowel cancer. They will have access to my retained samples for testing.  If there is something hereditary then I might be informed so that my children will be more aware.