Biruk Baye

@birukbaye · 02 Dec 2021

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Can healthy people get cancer?

This is a question that many people have been asking themselves in recent years. There have been several studies recently which have found that, contrary to popular belief, not only can adult humans get cancer but they do so regularly. Something like 12 adult individuals out of every 100 will develop cancer in their lifetime.

What does this mean for people who are around the age of around 20? Well, it means you should start being more conscious about your health and making sure you're eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly so you don't fall prey to getting this type of diagnosis after a long time waiting.

Research shows that an estimated 10% of cancer cases in adults can be attributed to family history, and for breast cancer, the estimate is closer to 50%.

If you don't have a family history of cancer, you could still get cancer from occupational or environmental hazards. Such substances as asbestos, coal tar pitch (a coal byproduct), vinyl chloride (found in PVC plastics), and benzene (a chemical used in gasoline refining) increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer. People exposed to the following substances are more likely to develop cancer of the liver, biliary tract, or bladder:

Below is a list of the most common adult cancers and their causes:

Lung Cancer: This is the #1 cancer diagnosis in America as it occurs most often, representing 38% of all cases. For those under 50 with this type of cancer, it is mostly caused by smoking. But do not stop smoking – on average more than 23% of people who die from lung cancer also smoked – instead, make sure you quit completely.

Liver Cancer: This was ranked as the second most common adult cancer diagnosis in America and represents about 19% of all cases. A liver disease called cirrhosis is associated with increased risks for liver cancer and can be potentially fatal. Liver cancer is more likely to occur in people with hepatitis B or C.

Colon Cancer: This was the third most common cancer diagnosis in America and represents about 18% of all cases. Like liver cancer, this is often linked with chronic liver disease like cirrhosis.

Like liver cancer, there are three types of colon (or rectum) cancers: adenocarcinoma, metastatic tumor, and adenoma. Adenocarcinoma accounts for 90% of all cases. Adenomatous polyps are benign tumors that may lead to colon cancer if they are not removed during routine screening tests.

Prostate Cancer: This is the fourth most common cancer diagnosis in America and represents about 16% of all cases. This type of cancer is more commonly diagnosed in older men…and may be linked with exposure to pesticides, chemicals, plastics, and dyes. Men over the age of 50 should have an annual digital rectal examination (DRE) to check for prostate cancer risk.

Melanoma: This is the fifth most common cancer diagnosis in America and represents about 6% of all cases. It shows up on the skin often as a spot or mole that doesn't go away after a few months or years. The most common cause is exposure to UV rays from sunlight and tanning beds.

Conclusion

As we can see there is nothing you can do to prevent most adult cancers. If you want to be healthy and don't have a family history of cancer, then the best thing that you can do is avoid anything that will harm your health. If you're not sure if something is safe for you then just don't use it. Remember, what's good for one person may not be good for another person, so it's always best to ask your doctor.