Although scientists are researching this all the time, we still don’t know what causes most cancers.
We do know that there are certain things or factors that increase your risk of developing cancer. We know that smoking, staying in the sun for long periods of time or a poor diet can cause damage to certain cells which then makes these cells grow and divide uncontrollably. Something that causes a cancer is known as a carcinogen.
Rarely, cancers can be caused by an inherited change in the information or genes, which is something that is passed on from your parents. It is thought that only 1 in 10 cancers are caused by this.
You can’t catch cancer!
It is important to remember that for most cancers, especially in young people, we don’t know what causes them. And it’s nothing that you have done that has caused it.
These cancers are also very rare so if you haven't been diagnosed with cancer and you're just a bit worried, get some more info from the worried you might have cancer section.
