The oncologist named the main habits that provoke cancer

Smoking, alcohol, regular consumption of red meat and a sedentary lifestyle are among the main habits that cause cancer, said Rasul Akhmaev, an oncologist and chemotherapist at SM-Clinic. He shared his comment with Lenta.ru.

“The main mechanism of cancer caused by smoking is associated with damage to the DNA of cells: chemicals contained in cigarette smoke, such as benzene, benzopyrene, nitrosamines and others, can cause this damage. And then the risk of mutations increases, which leads to the development of cancer,” Akhmaev said.

Ingestion of saliva containing tobacco combustion products can lead to stomach cancer - these substances are foreign to the body and cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which can gradually cause cancer, the oncologist noted.

Alcohol can also provoke other cancers - primarily cancer of the liver, esophagus, larynx and pharynx, oral cavity, colorectal cancer (rectum and colon).

“We must remember that regular consumption of alcohol reduces immunity and negatively affects the digestive system. In addition, alcohol provokes, for example, a disease such as liver cirrhosis, which can develop into hepatocellular cancer,” Akhmaev emphasized.

Regular consumption of red meat (pork, beef, lamb), low-quality surrogate processed meat products (sausages, sausages), as well as meat products containing preservatives and smoked products, salting is also a bad habit. According to the oncologist, a variety of substances are used during the preparation of meat, many of which are carcinogens. They cause persistent inflammation of the intestinal lining, which can also lead to the development of colorectal cancer.

“In simple words, a small portion of kebab once a month will most likely not harm you, but eating meat 2-3 times a day, especially the kind that is included, for example, in fast food dishes, significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer,” Akhmaev said.

The doctor recalled that in 2020 a study by scientists from the M.D. Oncology Center was published. Anderson (University of Texas), which clearly demonstrated the connection between a sedentary lifestyle and the development of cancer.

“The study found that if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, then his risk of cancer is almost twice as high as that of those who do not forget about at least moderate physical activity for 30 minutes a day. We’re not talking about going to the gym every day and doing heavy workloads, but moving, walking more often, riding a bike, doing morning jogs, exercises is entirely within our power,” Akhmaev added.