When we hear something might cause cancer our first reaction is often to think that we need to avoid it at all costs. But often it’s not that simple.

“Cancer is caused by changes in cell DNA. Some changes may be passed down from our parents in the form of genetic defects, while others could be caused by environmental factors. The substances, situations and exposures that can lead to cancer are called carcinogens, according to the

American Cancer Society. While some carcinogens don’t affect DNA directly, they can lead to cancer in other ways — by causing cells to divide at a faster than normal rate, for example.”

We are all to some degree at risk of developing cancer. Our risks for different kinds of cancer vary based on a number of factors. Some of these, like age, gender, and genetic makeup, are beyond our control.

However, here are some known carcinogens (cancer-causers) away of smoking, as well as a few more common lifestyle factors can also increase your chances of getting the disease:

A recent study showed that teenage life can have a big impact on cancer outcomes. The researchers found that for adolescents who were overweight, with a BMI in the 85th percentile or higher, risk of esophageal cancer was 2.1 times higher. The researchers noted that previous research has shown higher cancer incidence in overweight adults, and this suggests the correlation extends into adolescence.

The researchers also found that teens from lower socioeconomic classes and those who had little schooling had a heightened risk of these types of cancers.

“Alcoholic beverages were listed as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and numerous studies on a variety of cancers have shown an alcohol-cancer link. A new study, published in the issue of the American Journal of Public Health,

finds an even stronger link between cancer and alcohol deaths. Researchers from the Boston University schools of Medicine and Public Health found that alcohol resulted in about 20,000 cancer deaths in 2009, accounting for about 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States that year.”

“The researchers also found that each alcohol-related cancer death accounted for an average of 18 years of potential life lost in those who died. The new data serves as a reminder that alcohol is a carcinogen, even when consumed in moderate quantities. According to the data analysis in the study,

average consumption of 1.5 drinks per day or less accounted for 30 percent of all alcohol-attributable cancer deaths. The strongest links between alcohol and cancer deaths were to breast cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancers, and liver cancer.”

Cooking beef, pork, fish, or poultry using high-temperature methods, like pan-frying or grilling over an open flame, can form chemicals called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which have been linked to cancer in animals, according to the National Cancer Institute.

A more recent study, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, found cooking red meats at high temperatures, especially pan-frying, can increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer by as much as 40 percent.

“A recent study by researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology found that when exposed to sunlight, zinc oxide, which is an ingredient found in many brands of sunscreen, undergoes a chemical reaction that could release unstable molecules known as free radicals. These molecules try to

bond with other molecules and in the process can damage DNA in the cells, which could increase the risk of skin cancer. The researchers said tests on a possible zinc oxide-cancer risk are still in the early stages, so they recommend continuing to wear sunscreen rather than forgoing any type of

protection when you’re out in the sun.”

“While the noxious smell of diesel exhaust may remind you of bus trips or weekend getaways, it could also increase your risk of lung cancer. The IARC began classifying diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans in 2012 based on “”sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased

risk for lung cancer.”” A study published in the Annals Of Occupational Hygiene was based on research by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health involving more than 12,000 mine workers. Researchers found an increase in lung cancer rates among those

exposed to diesel exhaust underground, with greater exposure linked to higher cancer rates. In those with the highest exposure, the study found deaths from lung cancer tripled.”

“The news can be confusing, even frightening, at times. Many people fear cancer more than any other disease, so hearing that something might cause cancer can bring out strong emotions, especially if it’s something you’re exposed to on a regular basis. So it’s is vital to remember that studying cancer

(and what causes it) is complex. Study findings are usually not black and white – they need to be viewed in the context of other research on the subject. Even then, many times answers aren’t clear. Sometimes there just isn’t enough information to say for sure how the findings might apply to you. “

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