Cancer
Screening, lifestyle and what shapes your cancer risk.
64 answers, from 409 studies
Last updated: July 2026
Key questions
How can you detect melanoma early?
Early detection of melanoma is best achieved by regularly checking your own skin, knowing the ABCDE features, and consulting a…
Yes · Moderate evidence
Does alcohol increase your risk of cancer, even with one drink a day?
Yes, even one drink a day increases the risk of certain cancers, particularly breast and colorectal cancer. There is no safe…
Yes · Moderate evidence
Does eating less red meat lower your risk of cancer?
Eating less red and processed meat probably lowers your risk of colorectal cancer, and possibly of several other cancer types…
Yes · Moderate evidence
Why does the risk of cancer increase with age?
The older you get, the more damage accumulates in your cells and the worse your body becomes at repairing or detecting that…
What is the relationship between cancer and senescent cells?
Senescent cells initially protect against cancer, but when they accumulate they can actually promote tumour growth through…
What does smoking do to your gut and gut microbiome?
Smoking disrupts your gut microbiome and increases the risk of intestinal inflammation, gastrointestinal complaints and…
Why do damaged cells sometimes multiply instead of cleaning themselves up?
Damaged cancer cells survive by actively blocking or redirecting their own self-cleaning and self-destruction mechanisms. This…
Does having type 2 diabetes increase your risk of certain cancers?
Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of at least six cancer types, most likely primarily through chronically elevated insulin…
Latest articles
28 JulThe aging immune system loses ground on multiple fronts
Your immune system does far more than fight infections. It maintains tissues, clears damaged cells and keeps cancer in check.
1 min
Colon cancer is rising fast in people under fifty
Colorectal cancer has long been seen as a disease of older age. But younger adults are increasingly being diagnosed, often too…
1 min
Cancer signal both feeds tumors and boosts immunity
A signaling pathway that helps breast cancer grow also strengthens the immune response against the tumor. That paradoxical…
1 min
AI imaging tool tracks immune cells in real time
How do immune cells kill a cancer cell? And how fast does it happen?
1 min
An immune enzyme quietly blocks cancer defense
The immune system has dedicated cells that detect and destroy cancer. But sometimes they don’t work as well as they should.
1 min
Molecular glue reaches cancer targets once out of range
Most drugs work by blocking a single protein. But a special class of molecules, called molecular glues, works differently.
1 min
One gene marker predicts childhood cancer survival
In childhood cancer, predicting who responds well to treatment and who does not is critical.
1 min
Sensory nerves drive cancer-related muscle loss
Cancer patients often lose muscle and body weight rapidly, even when they are eating.
1 min
Related topics