On Educating Ourselves on Cancer Causes

I read this article moments ago, http://radio.foxnews.com/2015/01/02/23-of-cancer-cases-just-bad-luck/ . This article states that 2/3 of cancer is just bad luck. A random mutation of genes. I was disappointed in reading this as this article is a destroyer of hope.

I am not a scientist, nor am I a doctor. I am one who reads extensively, however about cancer and ways to fight it due to being a survivor myself. The best way to fight an enemy, is to learn about your enemy. When you learn the causes, the risk that you as an individual face, and ways to prevent and fight, half of your battle is won.

Yes, cancer is a mutation of cells, but there are many causes for this mutation. To lump it largely under bad luck is presumptuous and wrong. The American Cancer Society has a web page filled with information. This is a link to their page on causes of cancer: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/index

The Mayo Clinic discussing gene mutation and cancer risks: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/basics/causes/con-20032378

The National Cancer Institute has this list of informational topics: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes

To inform and arm oneself is important and vital. To do otherwise is to walk around in a state of denial and risk.  Our lives have changed immensely over the years. We have created many different things and ways with the purpose of  making our life better, but there are dangers in those very things.

What are they putting in those processed foods?

What are they injecting and feeding livestock?

What are they spraying on fruits and vegetables?

How are they mutating those same vegetables?

How many different ways is sugar hidden in our foods?

What dangers reside in plastics that we use every day for storing, eating and drinking from?

What chemicals do we come into contact with every day in our day to day living?

Are we eating junk, or are we eating a diet that will sustain good health?

Are we exercising or do we have an affair going on with our couch and television?

These are only a few of the question and thoughts to consider.

Yes, genetics can and does play a part in our risk of having cancer, but that is a small risk compared to the many other factors. Bad luck not even being considered.

When we educate ourselves, we equip ourselves for battle. We can work to prevent it, we can work to fight it, and we can work to win. But we have to know what and how to fight.

In there, we also need to support those who are working hard toward finding more and better ways to fight. To not support the doctors, scientist and lay person working diligently, is as much a state of denial as is the risks faced personally.