How Lifestyle choices can be associated with cancer
Discuss how lifestyle choices can be associated with cancer. Are there ways to prevent this predisposition? Why or why not?
How Lifestyle Choices Can Be Associated With Cancer
A lifestyle choice is a decision to engage in behavior that can increase or decrease the risk of injury, wellness, or developing comorbidity (Sarafino & Smith, 2017). These choices have an impact not only on current health status they influence future health as well. Numerous lifestyle choices affect current and future health. Common examples include the amount of sleep one gets, level of physical activity, diet consumed, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Most of the factors outlined above are linked to predisposition to cancer. Tobacco consumption is attributed to causing many cancers, such as lung and cervical cancer, among others (Sarafino & Smith, 2017). Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with a diverse array of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, such as cancers of the larynx, pharynx, hypopharynx, and esophagus. Cancers of the liver, mouth, and breast are also associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Diet has also been linked to carcinogenesis. The latter is attributed to carcinogenetic substances, such as additives, pesticides, and dioxins, that are common in foods today. Heavy consumption of red meat has also been outlined as a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer. Bisphenol, a carcinogen from plastic containers, can also leak into food. Obesity is linked to elevated levels of cancer from the colon, breasts, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys. Conversely, obesity is attributed to the modernization of the western world, lifestyle choices, and diet. Environmental pollution is also linked to some cancers.
Are there ways to prevent this predisposition?
Since the factors outlined above are lifestyle choices, the term ‘choice’ implies that one can prevent them. Some elements, however, cannot be entirely contained as they are out of the consumer’s hand. Factors that one can prevent via lifestyle changes include diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption, obesity, and red meat consumption. Controlling diet via eating less red meat and avoiding foods grown using pesticides and herbicides can lower the risk of developing various cancers. A diet control paired with physical activity can additionally keep obesity at bay and, in turn, reduce the predisposition to cancer. For some people, however, obesity is hereditary and somewhat unavoidable. Lowering or eliminating tobacco and alcohol consumption also aids in lowering the predisposition to cancer. Factors that could be difficult to control are environmental pollution are cancers due to obesity when the condition results from genetics or socioeconomic status. Further, it would be difficult to control diet without the resources to access and purchase better food.
References
Sarafino, E., & Smith, T. (2017). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781119299486
REPLIES
PROF: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY / CTA
One of the greatest things about the aged is their knack for story. Who hasn’t enjoyed a good story from grandpa or grandma about the good ‘ole days? For our extra fun activity for this week, please share a story about or from an elderly person who tells a story in your life that made or continues to make a big impact on your life journey. In other words, is there a person in your life who had a special gift of telling stories or do you have a particular story that made a huge impression on you? In addition, why is “story” so important in adult development, but also for the young as well? What does “story” do for you personally, for your family, for your culture/ethnicity?
Thank you! God bless your day!
Respectfully
Dr Gontarz
Reply to Prof
Hello Dr. Gontarz. I agree that the older generation does have a knack for storytelling. I think it was necessary as a few decades ago, people did not have as many avenues for entertainment as we do today. For me, most of the stories received by my older family members circles around the struggles they experienced and how they overcame them. The most common struggle they talk about was getting an education. Most people think that they are complaining when they talk about such issues. However, I think they tell us their incredible feats to motivate us to believe in ourselves and our abilities. That if they can do it, so can we. Storytelling is vital for development as it increases cognitive stimulation and memory and promotes positive social connections. For children, storytelling is an essential source of familial and ethnic history. Storytelling also aids in brain development, creativity, and strengthening relationships in children.
JORDAN
Hello Dr. Gontarz and class
Discuss how lifestyle choices can be associated with cancer.
Cancer is a chronic disease that most people fear most, as it is the leading cause of death worldwide, and accounts for 1 in every 7 deaths each year (Sarafino & Smith, 2017). Despite such fear and the high prevalence of mortality associated with cancer, individuals in America still make lifestyle choices that can increase their risk for cancer. For example, tobacco use has been a common unhealthful lifestyle choice that many people make around the world. The smoke produced from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes consists of at least seventy chemicals associated with cancer. Breathing in the smoke allows for those chemicals to get into one’s bloodstream, and the bloodstream proceeds to carry these chemicals to all areas of the body, damaging one’s DNA (CDC, 2021). DNA damage can produce cancer through cells growing differently than they are supposed to.
Alcohol consumption is also a lifestyle choice that many people choose to do, although it can also increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Ethanol, as well as its toxic by-product acetaldehyde damage one’s cells through binding with DNA and causing cells to replicate incorrectly, and alcohol influences hormone levels contributing to modification in the way cells grow and divide (CDC, 2022).
Another lifestyle choice is diet. Diets rich in red meats, processed meats, and high in fats, proteins, and calories all contribute to a higher risk for particular cancers. Unhealthy diets can increase one’s risk of becoming obese, and obesity is commonly associated with many cancers, as one’s body does not function properly (Key, 2020).
Are there ways to prevent this predisposition? Why or why not?
Although cancer is a chronic illness that can be influenced by genetics, there are clearly lifestyle choices that increase one’s risk for cancer, which can be altered to prevent predisposition. According to Sarafino & Smith (2017), health behaviors are any activities that people perform or engage in to maintain or improve their health, regardless of one’s health status or whether the behavior will actually achieve the goal. If people were to engage in more healthy behaviors, they could certainly decrease their risk of being predisposed to cancer. For example, avoiding tobacco products and alcohol, weight management, healthy food choices, and regular physical activity in addition to getting timely cancer screenings can help to prevent cancer (Crane et al., 2018).
For those who are overweight or obese, even losing a small amount of weight can benefit their health. Through engaging in such health behaviors, one can decrease their risk for cancer and prevent a cancer diagnosis, although there are factors that some people are unable to control that increase their risk for cancer. For example, those who live in poverty may be unable to afford or access healthy food choices, and to survive, they may have to consume unhealthy food.Preventing predisposition can be done through limited unhealthful behaviors and taking care of one’s health. If one is to go to the doctor for a cancer screening, it is important to adhere to the provider’s recommendations if there are any (Crane et al., 2018).
Blessings
Jordan
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Alcohol and cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/alcohol/index.htm
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Tobacco and cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/tobacco/index.htm
Crane, T. E., Gershenwald, J. E., Harmon, G. E., LoConte, N. K., Rechis, R., & Thomson, C. A. (2018). Lifestyle modifications and policy implications for primary and secondary cancer prevention: Diet, exercise, sun safety, and alcohol reduction. American Society of Clinical Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1200/edbk_200093
Key, T. J. (2020). Diet, nutrition, and cancer risk: What do we know and what is the way forward? The BMJ, 368(m511). www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m5111
Sarafino, E., & Smith, T. (2017). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781119299486
Reply to Jordan
Hi Jordan. A lifestyle choice is a decision to engage in an act that can either increase the risk of injury or poor health or decrease the same (Sarafino & Smith, 2017). Lifestyle choices play a major role in the predisposition to cancer. Some notable lifestyle choices that can increase the risk of cancer include smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, or tobacco use is linked with numerous types of cancer. Smoking is a significant threat to health and is strongly cautioned against. Chronic alcohol use is also linked to various cancers such as gastrointestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. Obesity due to diet and physical activity is a serious threat to the quality of life and a life-threatening comorbidity that predisposes a person to various types of cancer.
References
JESICA
Hello Dr. Gontarz,
Discuss how lifestyle choices can be associated with cancer. Are there ways to prevent this predisposition? Why or why not?
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer is genetic in which it is caused by genes that change that are responsible for the way our cells function, grow and divide errors that occur as cells divide. Genetic errors cause cancer be cause of damage to the DNA that is caused by harmful substances that are in the environment, such as chemicals in tobacco and ultraviolet rays from the sun (NCI, 2021). Cancer accounts for 1 in 7 deaths per year and is the leading cause of death (Sarafino & Smith, 2017).
Discuss how lifestyle choices can be associated with cancer.
The lifestyle choices that people make can increase ones chances of developing cancer. Smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer in the lungs, bladder, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, kidneys and cervix and chewing tobacco increases your risk of cancer in the oral cavity and pancreas. Tobacco, diet, sun exposure (UV exposure), alcohol consumption, infections, viruses, exposure to chemicals such as asbestos, environmental exposure like pollution, smoke, fertilizers, and pesticides all increase your risk of developing cancer (CDC, 2022).
Are there ways to prevent this predisposition?
There are many preventative measures that one can take to decrease the risk of developing cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, avoiding tobacco, avoiding alcohol, using sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure, getting vaccinated, safe sex measures, and regular medical screenings are all ways that one can prevent predisposition (Mayo Foundation, 2021). Environmental factors are things that often cannot be controlled however job related environmental factors can. The career choice you make can increase your risk of cancer. Firefighters are exposed to smoke and environmental chemicals, nail salon workers are exposed to chemicals, lifeguards are overexposed to UV rays, farmers are exposed to pesticides, painters are exposed to fumes, and construction workers are exposed to asbestos. These jobs predispose one to cancer and could potentially be avoided by utilizing proper protection or by choosing a different career path.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 19). Healthy choices to lower your cancer risk. Centers for disease control and prevention. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/other.htm
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, February 17). 7 healthy habits that can reduce your risk of cancer. Mayo clinic. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816
National Cancer Institute. (2021). What is cancer? Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
Sarafino, E., & Smith, T. (2017). Health psychology: biopsychosocial interactions (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781119299486
Reply to Jessica
Hi Jessica. Cancer is a debilitating disease that entails the uncontrollable growth of cells. Lifestyle choices significantly influence predisposition to cancer. Lifestyle choices can be described as conscious decisions that either increase or decrease the risk of injury and poor health (Sarafino & Smith, 2017). Some lifestyle choices linked to cancer include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet, and physical activity. Tobacco use, even in moderation, is a significant cause of cancer. Tobacco use is linked to numerous cancer types, such as lung and throat cancer. Chronic alcohol use is also attributed to the development of colorectal cancer. Poor diet and physical activity cause several comorbidities such as obesity that predisposes one to cancer.
References
Sarafino, E., & Smith, T. (2017). Health psychology: biopsychosocial interactions (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781119299486