Cancer is a disease caused by changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. These changes are sometimes called “drivers” of cancer and can happen because of errors that occur as cells divide, damage to DNA caused by harmful substances in the environment, or inherited from our parents. Mutations in particular genes may mean that a cell starts making too many proteins that trigger a cell to divide or stops making proteins that normally tell a cell to stop dividing. There have to be about 6 different mutations before a normal cell turns into a cancer cell. Some of the initiating agents that contribute to human cancers include solar ultraviolet radiation, carcinogenic chemicals in tobacco smoke, and aflatoxin.

Cancer cells have gene mutations that turn the cell from a normal cell into a cancer cell. These gene mutations may be inherited, develop over time as we get older and genes wear out, or develop if we are around something that damages our genes, like cigarette smoke, alcohol, or ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. A cancer cell doesn’t act like a normal cell. It starts to grow and divide out of control instead of dying when it should. They also don’t mature as much as normal cells so they stay immature.

In summary, cancer is caused by changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. These changes can happen because of errors that occur as cells divide, damage to DNA caused by harmful substances in the environment, or inherited from our parents.