What are the causes of cancer? For years, people have tried to understand a big question. What is the real cause of cancer? After much research, statistics indicate that cancer is a disease of the modern world (Stevenson 1). Some of the main factors that cause cancer include tobacco use, industrial agents, and a person's weight and diet. (Landau 2-4). The modern environment and people's daily lifestyle contain factors that cause cancer. Scientists have conducted research that has shown that ancient Egyptian mummies were free of cancer or tumors. They are sure of this because during mummification, these kinds of things are preserved inside the body. The absence of cancerous tumors among the ancient Egyptians shows their rarity at that time. This indicates that the factors causing cancer are limited to societies with modern industry like ours (Stevenson 1). Most cancers occur at different rates in other parts of the world. Lifestyle can increase cancer risk because it can affect cells primed to become cancerous by helping them grow. The environment can change the genes that make them cancerous in the first place. An abnormal cell causes a tumor. This cell appears no different from normal cells and only functions and divides when needed. Then, even if the organ it supports has a sufficient quantity of cells, it divides uncontrollably (Weinberg 1-2). Almost everyone knows that tobacco is a cause of cancer. It can cause cancer by changing a gene and causing it to divide uncontrollably, then the unwanted cells spread throughout the body (Elk 45). Smoking alone is responsible for 30 percent of all cancer deaths. The risk of smoking depends on the type of cigarettes, how deeply a person breathes the smoke, and how...... middle of paper ...... Works Cited Elk, Ronit and Monica Morrow. “Causing the mutation: genetics or environment? » 2003. Breast cancer for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2003. 45-46. Print. Landau, Elaine. “Cancer: causes and prevention. » Cancer (9780805029901). 36. np: Lerner Publishing Group, 1994. Health Source – Consumer Edition. Internet. April 13, 2014.Stevenson, Heidi. “The modern environment causes cancer.” Cancer. Ed. Jacqueline Langwith. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At issue. Rep. Excerpted from “Cancer is of human origin and not caused by genes or long life: study papers. » Gaia Health, October 17, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Disk. March 24, 2014. Weinberg, Robert A. Komaroff, Anthony L. “Your Lifestyle, Your Genes, and Cancer.” » Newsweek 151.25 (2008): 40. MAS Ultra - School edition. Internet. April 16. 2014.