The Cancer Council of Australia details cancer causes for each area of the body.

The World Health Organisation website contains key facts on the causes of all cancers.

Cancers are a broad group of diseases and accordingly have a wide range of causes. Each cancer is different according to its biology and pathophysiology. All animals and even plants are susceptible to cancers.

Scientists have gained detailed knowledge about the molecules that cause cells to develop abnormal behaviours such as limitless reproduction, invasion of surrounding tissues, and spread (metastasis) to other regions of the body. As a result, there exists a great deal of information regarding the mechanisms by which various agents, external and internal, give rise to tumours. Whereas eliminating the ultimate causal agent is not always simple, knowing the immediate mechanism allows for interference with the abnormal, cancer-causing function, in turn facilitating the development of highly effective anticancer drugs.

Cancer can occur in families because there is an inherited faulty gene causing an increased chance of cancer. Trying to find information about cancers in your family and how to deal with them can be difficult. The following pages provide simple information about what it means to have a family history of cancer, some different types of family cancers and who you can contact for further information.

Advances in science have improved our knowledge of the inner workings of cells, the basic building blocks of the body. All living things are made of cells. Complex animals such as humans have trillions of cells. Cells work together to form organs, such as the heart, liver, and skin. Human bodies have several organ systems.

Your risk of cancer can increase through exposure to cancer causing agents. These agents may be biological (specific viruses or bacteria), physical (ultraviolet light, x-rays) or chemical. Only a minor fraction of chemicals cause cancer and these are referred to as ‘carcinogens'.

Carcinogens are substances capable of causing cancer . The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) maintains a list of many substances based on their potential to cause cancer.

As the understanding of DNA and genes has increased, scientists have learned that it was the damage to DNA by chemicals and radiation, or the introduction of new DNA sequences by viruses that often led to the development of cancer. It became possible to pinpoint the exact site of the damage on a specific gene.

This reports outlines the biological and environmental causes of cancer.

At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer.

A recent edition of the ABC’s Catalyst programme looked into the issues of the health effects of electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The episode “takes a closer look at the link between mobile phones and brain cancer, and explores whether our wireless devices could be putting our health at risk”.

Scientists have accused the ABC’s Catalyst program of broadcasting incorrect research and using scare tactics after it linked wi-fi and mobile phone use with a possible rise in brain cancers in children.

Familial cancer syndromes are rare in the general population, but they account for 5%–10% of all cancers. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and second most lethal cancer in the United States, and 11% of colon cancers and 18% of rectal cancers occur in people under age 50; of these, about 20% are caused by familial cancer syndromes.