6 Surprising Habits That Can Cause Cancer

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

The “C” word! It is a scary word which people are often afraid of, often avoiding it until it eventually finds them.

Many who have encountered it believe that in the end, it makes you stronger – that it brings a level of challenge which makes one a different, but better version of themselves. No, I am not talking about the word “change”. I am talking about “cancer”.

We are all aware that staying out in the sun for too long and smoking many packets of cigarettes can cause us cancer, but have you ever thought about our regular, harmless habits and whether they can cause us something or not?

If we ever got lung cancer after spending years smoking, of course, we would be surprised, but not as much because it was expected. However, the real shock will occur if we developed cancer, knowing that we never did anything that’s unhealthy or harmful to our bodies.

We may eat healthy every day, clean our vegetables way too well, stay away from the sun, work out daily, and avoid any stressful situations. Yet, we would still be prone to developing dangerous cases of cancer.

Why? Because of many harmless habits that we adopted over the years, thinking they are “normal”, but in reality, they can be extremely dangerous.

It is time to be extremely aware of what we do every single day because you never know when a disease may occur and change our lives forever.

#1 – Placing your smartphone in the bra

According to the founder and president of Environmental Health Trust, Devra Davis, Ph.D. MPH, there were 7 cases documented of 7 women who developed cancerous tumors in their breasts, exactly where they used to carry their cell phones for the past 10 years. She explained that the tumors have formed in the outlines of where their phones lodged.

Basically, breast cancer doesn’t form in the center of the chest, but in the upper outer quadrants, and none of these cases have experienced the known breast cancers mutations. Men, on the other hand, are also at risk if they tend to put their phones in their breast pockets.

#2 – Sitting for too long

For years and years, we have heard about the importance of working out, engaging in daily exercises, and keeping our heart pumping blood all the time. However, the majority of us would end up getting an office job that makes us sit for 7 to 9 hours every single day.

Physical activity can reduce our risk of postmenopausal breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancers. According to research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk of developing colon cancer, lung cancer, and endometrial increases with every 2 hours we spend it sitting.

The conclusion is sitting in one place for two hours and then exercising for one hour will not decrease your cancer risk, which is why you need to get moving all day long. So when at work, try to take breaks every now and then to stretch, take a walk, or do anything that will help your blood run a little faster through your veins.

#3 – Using Talcum powder

Through the past years, many studies have shown the relationship between the ovarian cancer risk and women’s usage of talcum powder on their perineal area (from the vulva to the anus).

Also, there are many other studies that found talcum powder to be one of the reasons for endometrial cancer, specifically among postmenopausal women. So if you are a woman who likes to use the talcum powder around your private area, then it is time to stop.

Using it only once a week increases your chances by 24% of getting endometrial cancer, which is an extremely dangerous number, so it is best to just stay away from it!

#4 – Working night shifts

After looking at 2,300 women, a 2013 study that was published in the British Medical Journal explained how night-shift work can increase the risk of getting breast cancer greatly. In fact, women who have worked night shifts for over 30 years were twice as likely to develop cancer.

Scientists suggested that melatonin suppression is one of the strongest reasons between cancer risk and night-shift jobs. Plus, sleep disturbances, lack of vitamin D, upset body rhythms, and a completely different lifestyle can play a great role in developing the disease.

After all, working night shifts could be fun and practical, but you need to go back to day-shifts as soon as you can to protect your body.

#5 – Sugary beverages

Lemonade, sodas, and sweetened tea are some of the foods that are rich in the glycemic index, which is an element that increases our risk of endometrial cancer.

The reason is after consuming them, a spike occurs in our blood sugar and insulin. Therefore, having high amounts of insulin regularly will create the perfect environment for cancer to develop.

Above all that, sugary drinks promote obesity, which also increases the risk of esophageal, colorectal, postmenopausal breast, kidney, endometrial, gallbladder, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers.

If you love these drinks, then try your best to drink them once in a while with small sizes, and with little sugar.

#6 – Drinking alcohol

Alcohol is known to give us a good time and a good memory, but it also gives us dangerous diseases that we will have to deal with for the rest of our lives.

Alcohol increases our risk for breast, colorectal, esophageal, breast, pharynx, mouth, liver, and larynx cancers. The thing is when alcohol metabolizes within us, it produces a carcinogen, which at the end turn into carbon dioxide and water that our bodies eliminate.

Also, alcohol can increase our risk of obesity and body fat, leading us to the obesity-cancer link. The difference in the effect is non-existent between beers, wine, and hard liquor.