Cancer often feels like a random, frightening disease that strikes without warning.
Many people wonder if there’s anything they could have done to stop it.
A new study from researchers at Yale University brings us a step closer to answering that question by digging deep into the causes of cancer—especially the changes in our DNA that lead to tumors.
Our DNA is like a set of instructions that tells our cells how to function. Over time, certain things can cause small changes—called mutations—in our DNA. Some of these changes can make cells grow out of control, which is what we call cancer.
The Yale team studied 24 different types of cancer and looked closely at the mutations involved in each one. They wanted to figure out whether those mutations were caused by things people could control—like smoking or too much sun—or by factors that are out of our hands, like aging or random errors that happen naturally in the body.
This question matters because some cancers are clearly linked to behavior. For example, people who smoke have a much higher chance of getting lung cancer, and those who spend a lot of time in the sun without protection are more likely to get skin cancer. In these cases, the cause is mostly preventable. But for other cancers, the reasons are less clear.
The Yale researchers found that some cancers are largely preventable. For example, they discovered that a large portion of bladder and skin cancers could be linked to lifestyle choices and exposure to harmful substances. These are cancers that many people could avoid by making changes in their behavior or environment.
However, the study also showed that other cancers—like prostate cancer and gliomas, a type of brain cancer—were mostly caused by things that people can’t control. These types of cancer are more likely to be linked to aging or random mutations that happen during normal cell division. In other words, even healthy people who avoid all known risks can still get them.
One of the most useful parts of this study is how it can help public health efforts. In places or professions where cancer rates are especially high, knowing which cancers are preventable can help leaders take action.
If a certain community has high rates of a preventable cancer, that might be a sign they’re being exposed to harmful chemicals or working in unsafe conditions. Identifying and removing those dangers could save lives.
Still, this study is only part of the picture. The researchers focused mainly on one kind of mutation. There are other, more complex changes in DNA—like when large parts of a chromosome are duplicated or moved—that also play a role in cancer. More research is needed to understand those changes better.
Even with its limits, this study marks real progress. It helps us understand which cancers might be preventable and which ones are likely due to natural causes. And that gives both individuals and health officials powerful tools. If we know which behaviors are linked to cancer, we can make better choices. If we know where environmental risks exist, we can fight to remove them.
In a world where cancer is still one of the top causes of death, every piece of understanding matters. The better we get at identifying what triggers cancer, the better we can protect ourselves and the people we care about. This research brings hope—not just for better treatment, but for better prevention. And that could make a life-saving difference.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
