Doctor reveals five things people have no idea cause cancer

Shisha Smoking and Cancer Risks

A leading oncologist has identified five habits that may increase cancer risk.

Dr. Mikkael Sekeres is the chief of hematology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida. He warns that everyday activities can lead to cancer development. A review of over 2 million young cancer patients from 2010 to 2019 found 14 rising cancers, including stomach, colon, and breast cancers.

Excessively Hot Drinks

Alcohol is known to raise cancer risk. It breaks down into acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical that damages DNA. Surprisingly, hot drinks like tea can also increase throat cancer risk.

A study from China showed that drinking tea over 140°F (60°C) raised esophageal cancer risk five-fold when combined with daily alcohol consumption. Drinking hot tea alone doubled the risk. UK research found nearly double the throat cancer risk for those consuming four to six cups of hot coffee or tea daily.

Grilling

As summer arrives, many Americans start grilling meats. Dr. Sekeres cautions against cooking meats at high temperatures, such as burgers and hot dogs.

Grilling generates harmful chemicals called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These compounds are mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic due to reactions between meat proteins and heat. Dr. Sekeres limits high-heat cooked meat to once a month during grilling season.

Chemical Hair Straighteners and Dyes

Dyeing or straightening hair may also raise cancer risk. Hair products often contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and phthalates, which disrupt hormones.

These chemicals can increase the likelihood of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast and ovarian cancer. A 2020 study found permanent hair dye users had a higher breast cancer risk than non-users. Another study in 2022 linked recent use of straightening products to increased uterine cancer chances.

Tattoos

About one in three Americans has at least one tattoo, according to Pew Research Center data. While tattoos are generally seen as safe, recent studies suggest they might increase lymphoma risk.

Tattoo inks often contain synthetic molecules and heavy metals like cadmium, linked to various health issues including kidney damage and certain cancers. A small Danish study indicated that tattooed individuals were 62% more likely to develop skin cancer due to ink chemicals accumulating in lymph nodes.

Shisha Smoking

Shisha or hookah smoking involves burning flavored tobacco with charcoal for inhalation through a mouthpiece. Recent research shows about one in 100 Americans have tried hookah.

Many believe hookah is healthier than cigarettes because of water filtration; however, this is a misconception. Hookah smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens.

Dr. Sekeres notes that hookah smokers inhale more carbon monoxide than cigarette smokers due to longer sessions lasting one to two hours compared to minutes for cigarettes. The FDA estimates that during an hour-long hookah session, users inhale up to 200 times more smoke than from a single cigarette.