Genes - the inheritance of traits in living organisms - are also responsible for biodiversity - the variety of life and the

genetic differences among living organisms and evolution of new species. Even though it is very interesting and

advantageous to us to compare ourselves to some other animals on the planet, it also brings us some

disadvantages.


As a pre-medicine student very interested in research in genetic science, I always wondered why cancer is the only

disease so far that is very unpredictable. Most of the time it does not show any special sign or symptoms for early

diagnosis until the patient is almost at the third or fourth stage of the cancer (out of four stages).Sometimes it is

impossible to control rapid spread of the cancer cells/tumor, and by the time all the screening tests are done, the

patient is at the terminal stage. Most of us may know someone who has been through this. Incidents like this are not
only heartbreaking but terrifyingly scary, because you may have met someone three months ago, perfectly healthy,

and later you hear that that person is no longer in this world!

(Cancer Cold Virus)


If you are terrified by this possibility caused by cancer, it is not very commonly seen. With recent advancement in

science and technology and its application in medical field, cancer is now diagnosed early and thus treated and

cured before it is too late. There are many people today living happily and healthy who are cancer survivors. But is

the cancer preventable, so we don’t even have to go through this process?


Cancer is caused by changes(mutations) in a cell's DNA - its genetic "blueprint.” There are many known (and

unknown) factors that play an important role in the process of genetic mutation which can cause abnormal growth

of the cells, which are responsible for various cancers. Beside the hereditary inheritance, there are several other

factors such as infectious agents (certain bacteria, viruses, parasites etc), air pollution, medical treatments

(hormone replacement therapy and others), radiation (cell phone, sunlight, UV radiations, and others), certain

chemicals, consumer products, lifestyle habits, level of stress and coping mechanisms play an important role

in activation of the cancerous cell growth (Environmental). We cannot change our genes that we are born with, but

can we do something that may help us prevent from cancer?


The American Cancer Society recommends smoke free living, being active, eating healthy, and health screening to

prevent from many commonly occurring cancers!



According to a U.S. Surgeon General's report, cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 30 percent of all

cancer deaths; with lung cancer accounting for 80 percent of the smoking- attributable cancer deaths (USA).

Smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body and is linked to at least 15 different cancers (ACS)!


What you eat (or don’t eat) and how active you are influence your risk developing cancer (Pollak). So, is there an

anticancer diet? According to WedMD’s news on new research and case studies, certain fruits and vegetables,

such as strawberries, black raspberries, tomatoes, avocados, raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli

sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower may reduce your risk of cancer and may even help stop cancer in its tracks

(Doheny). The American Society of Cancer even has a fun “video” (Eat Right!) on how to eat right!



For colorectal cancer, screening saves lives. “It is estimated that as many as 60% of colorectal cancer deaths

could be prevented if all men and women aged 50 years or older were screened routinely” (CDC).


Skin cancer is the number one in most commonly occurring cancer but, fortunately, it is highly preventable.

Scientific studies have determined that daily use of sunscreens can reduce your chances of developing some

forms of skin cancer .Most of us are aware of this fact, and have adopted using the sunscreen on a daily basis

or when out soaking in the sun. Awareness of the skin cancer has lead many people to avoid lying in the sun.

Using the tanning salon for beautiful bronze skin is known to be attractive in current society. But is the tanning

beds really are as safe as the tanning salons and the tanning beds manufacturing companies say they are?


Tanning beds pose a greater cancer risk than previously believed, according to the International Agency for

Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) agency that developed the most widely

used system for classifying carcinogens (Snowden). The group has elevated tanning beds to its highest cancer

risk category – "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1). Tanning beds had previously been classified as "probably

carcinogenic to humans." So, should you stop going to the tanning salons too? Brittany Williams from Newport

News says, "It's not going to stop people from tanning just like it's not going to stop people from smoking

cigarettes." If you are not one of those people as Brittany says, but still would like to have the tan skin, sunless

tanning is the way to go (Lange) (Mary).


The second-most-common type of cancer that strikes women worldwide – behind only breast cancer is the

cervical cancer. In addition to regular Pap testing of all eligible women, cervical cancer prevention can be

improved with the use of the HPV Test (if age 30 or older) and the new HPV vaccine (ages 9-26).Since most

of the cervical cancer is caused by HPV virus through sexual intercourse, it can be preventable by the HPV

vaccine.


The American Cancer Society even has very resourceful and fun interactive tool on their website: “The Great

American Health Challenge”, which assesses the risk for cancer, and provides cancer prevention tips, and

ultimate personal health management (the). Does this mean if we do all this as they recommend we will be

cancer proof? How about the hereditary inheritance? Can we prevent our unborn generation from cancer?



Rapid progress in genetic science research and its application in the medical world may make possible to

modify the unborn child’s gene by vitro fertilization and pre implantation intervention to prevent certain

genetic related diseases including the cancer, but is it leading us to participating in preconception selection

of the traits and attributes of offspring – the creation of “Designer babies”?



The fact is, even though we will have “Designer babies”, those babies will still have to maintain their health

just as all of us today, and so to the basics – live healthy, consume food that are good for your health, avoid

bad habits, stay active, recognize the sign of cancer (and other diseases) (Finding), and take care of it as

soon as possible; last but not least, enjoy your life as never tomorrow. And, if you still have a cancer, fight

it like a warrior.


There is hope in our effort to combat the onslaught of cancer.



Cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsColorectalCancer/.

Doheny, Kathleen. "Is There an Anticancer Diet?" Ed. Brunilda Nazario, MD. Webmd.com. WebMD, 6 Dec. 2007. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20071206/is-there-an-anticancer-diet.

Eat Right! Perf. Ellie Krieger and Colleen Doyle. Cancer.org. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/content/video_ellie_krieger.asp.

"Environmental Carcinogens." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. American Cancer Society, 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_1_1.asp.

"Finding Cancer Early: ACS Guidelines." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. American Cancer Society, 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_2_1_introduction.asp?sitearea=PED.

"The Great American Health Challenge :: Great American Health Challenge." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. The American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/index.asp.

Lange, Dr. Beth. "Sunscree Q&A." Mary Kay Inc.: Makeup, skin care, beauty tips, virtual makeover. Mary Kay. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.marykay.com/chitrapatel//content/company/researchanddevelopment/sunscreen.aspx.

"Mary Kay® Subtle Tanning Lotion." Mary Kay Inc.: Makeup, skin care, beauty tips, virtual makeover. Mary Kay. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.marykay.com/chitrapatel/spabody/suncarecollection/suncarecollection/10017870/default.aspx.

Pollak, Michael. Macronutrient Intake and Cancer: How Does Dietary Restriction Influence Tumor Growth and Why Should We Care? Cancerpreventionresearch. The American Associateion of Cancer Research, 3 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/2/8/698.

Snowden, Rebecca V. "Tanning Beds Pose Serious Cancer Risk, Agency Says." Cancer.org. The American Cancer Society, 28 July 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Tanning_Beds_Pose_Definite_Cancer_Risk_Agency_Says.asp.

USA. Cancer.gov. National Cancer Institute, 25 Nov. 2008. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/ReportNation2008Release>.

"Cancer Cold Virus Press Release." News and events. Web. 12 Aug. 2009. http://www.newscentre.bham.ac.uk/press/2007/10/Cancer_Cold_Virus_03_10_07.shtml>.