Tumor is actually a genetic disease! How to prevent malignant tumors?

With the development of human science and technology, people's understanding of tumors has gradually become more in-depth. Tumors are divided into benign tumors and malignant tumors. Those derived from epithelial cells are called cancer. Let us learn about them together.

Tumor is actually a genetic disease

The development of a tumor does not happen in one step. Generally speaking, a somatic cell undergoes a gene mutation, which will gradually accumulate. After a period of time, a second or third gene mutation will occur. These mutations change from quantitative to qualitative, and the long-term accumulation will form a tumor. On average this takes more than ten years. During the treatment of tumors, the tumors will gradually develop drug resistance, and drug resistance makes the genetic mutations of the tumors more complicated.

Internal and external carcinogenic factors such as infection, radiation, diet, environmental degradation and aging can cause gene mutations. Tumors are the result of long-term accumulation of genetic mutations in these cells, from quantitative changes to qualitative changes. Most malignant tumors take more than ten years to develop.

The genes that affect tumor occurrence are divided into oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. These genes are necessary for regulating cell proliferation, but once a gene mutation occurs somewhere, the function of the gene is enhanced, or the gene function is lost, and the cell proliferation cannot be normally regulated, causing uncontrolled cell proliferation, and tumors occur. Generally speaking, mutations in oncogenes are activating mutations, and their functions become stronger after mutation, which can be likened to keeping the accelerator of a car pressed down without releasing. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes are generally inactivating mutations that cause them to lose their function and can no longer serve as car brakes. The occurrence of tumors generally involves mutations of several or even dozens of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

There are tens of thousands of genes in our body. Current research has found that there are more than 400 genes related to tumors and more than 3,000 genes indirectly related. This shows that the number of genes involved in tumors and their relationships are very complex.

How to prevent malignant tumors

★Maintain a reasonable weight throughout your life and avoid being overweight at any age. Maintaining your weight starts with maintaining daily exercise and limiting high-energy foods and drinks. For individuals who are currently overweight or obese, losing even a small amount of weight may be beneficial to their health.

★ Keep up daily exercise. Adults should participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week; reduce the time spent sitting or lying still, such as watching TV or using the computer.

★ Stick to a healthy diet and consume more plant-based foods. Choose low-calorie foods, limit red meat, and eat more unprocessed grains such as whole-grain bread, oatmeal, etc.

★ Limit alcohol consumption. Regular drinkers are advised to reduce their drinking to at least 10 ounces (about 280 g) of liquor or 24 ounces (about 680 g) of beer per day for men and 5 ounces (about 140 g) of liquor or 12 ounces (about 340 g) of beer per day for women.