Does inflammation cause cancer?
The link between cancer and inflammation was first made in the 19th Century by German pathologist Rudolf Virchow, yet it wasn’t until recently that this link has been more fully understood. With new research uncovering how inflammation can increase your risk of some types of cancers and how other cancers can cause inflammation that enables them to spread more quickly.
In this guide, we aim to explore the complex relationship between cancer and inflammation. From explaining the normal role of inflammation in the body to what happens when this goes wrong and how chronic inflammation may increase your risk of some types of cancer, you’ll have the knowledge to take a more proactive approach to managing your own health and wellbeing.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a normal physiological process of the body’s immune response and one of its first lines of defence against disease, infections and injuries.
The immune system releases inflammatory cells, which initiate an inflammatory response in the body that helps trap germs or toxins to stop them from spreading and start the healing process. When your immune system functions correctly, this acute inflammatory response shuts off once the threat passes.
However, sometimes, the body continues to produce an inflammatory response even though the threat of infection or disease has passed, or in the case of autoimmune diseases, an inflammatory response is triggered but there is no threat; this is known as chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can damage healthy tissues and cells and is linked to a range of chronic health conditions, as well as some types of cancer.
Causes of inflammation in the body
Acute inflammation is part of the body’s normal physiological response to an injury or illness and helps prevent you from getting ill. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is thought to be caused by multiple factors, including:
- Genetics
- Family history
- A poor diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Autoimmune disorders
- Alcohol and smoking
- Exposure to some chemicals, like asbestos
- Exposure to some environmental factors, such as UV rays
While it is not possible to change some of these factors, like your genes or family history, you can take a proactive approach to managing some of the others by making simple lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet.
How does inflammation cause cancer?
The connection between cancer and inflammation is complex, and research is still ongoing to uncover more about how the two are linked. However, it is believed that inflammation can cause or affect the spread of cancer in the following ways:
- Creating the right environment – When an inflammatory response is active despite there being no threat it can cause damage to healthy cells and tissues in your body. This can lead to mutations that cause cells to reproduce rapidly and can create an environment ripe for tumour growth.
- Promoting the growth and spread – During the inflammatory process, molecules called cytokines are produced by the body. Cytokines help stimulate the growth of blood vessels to enable the body to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to help fight off a threat. However, when cancer cells are present, this can result in the cancerous cells getting the additional oxygen and nutrients they need to spread and grow.
As a result of how inflammation and cancer are linked, it is possible for some cancers to be caused by pre-existing inflammation, whereas other cancers can trigger an inflammatory response, which enables the cancer to grow and spread.
Cancers that may be linked to inflammation
Colorectal cancer
Research has shown that people with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or chronic ulcerative colitis are at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
As a result, patients with inflammatory bowel disease are usually offered regular screening tests, such as a colonoscopy, to help detect any signs of cancer in the early stages when it may be more treatable.
Stomach cancer
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the world’s leading causes of stomach or gastric cancers.
H. pylori is a type of bacteria that infects the lining of the stomach and, if untreated, can cause chronic inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), which can lead to gastric cancers.
Although a link exists between H. pylori and stomach cancer, the chances of it leading to cancer in the UK are small, as instances of H. pylori infection are relatively low compared to other countries, and antibiotic treatment is readily available.
Learn more about H. pylori, from common symptoms to how to get tested.
Lung cancer
Chronic inflammation in the lungs caused by smoking or environmental air pollutants can cause tissue damage in the lungs, which can cause the development and progression of lung cancer.
Liver cancer
Long-term inflammation of the liver caused by a hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection has been linked to an increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Hepatitis B and C are both viral infections that affect the liver. Both are most commonly spread by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject blood, transmitted sexually, or passed on by pregnant women to their infants.
The good news is that both can be treated effectively with antibiotics, and in the UK, people at higher risk of hepatitis B are offered a vaccination.
Cervical cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer by causing changes to occur to cells in the cervix.
In the UK, regular cervical screening tests and a vaccination programme for HPV are available.
Other cancers linked to inflammation
In addition to the above, there are some other inflammatory conditions which are linked to an increased risk of cancer, such as:
- HIV – is linked to an increased risk of lung, anus and liver cancer
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – raises the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer (cancer in the back of the nose) and some types of lymphoma
- Schistosomiasis infection – caused by parasitic flatworms, it is linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer
Ways to reduce your risk of cancers linked to inflammation
Although it’s not possible to control all the risk factors linked to an increased risk of chronic inflammation and as a result some types of cancer, it is possible to make some changes to help reduce your risk.
One of the best ways to do this is by following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle , but making some of the below lifestyle changes is a step in the right direction:
- Following a healthy diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods
- Maintaining a healthy weight for you
- Exercising regularly
- Managing your stress levels
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Stopping smoking
- Reducing your exposure to everyday contaminants
Understand your risk
If you are concerned about your risk of developing certain types of cancer, our Male and Female Cancer Risk packages can provide essential insights and offer reassurance. Suitable for those over 40 and targeted to your specific gender assigned at birth, you can learn more about your risk of some cancers linked to inflammation (such as stomach and cervical cancers), as well as gaining other key insights into your overall health, like your cholesterol levels and risk of diabetes.
Our Male and Female Cancer Risk packages are available throughout the UK, making it easy for you to find a location convenient for you. Plus, you can be confident that we will deliver fast, efficient and accurate results as we have established links with leading UK laboratories and are fully accredited for a wide range of tests. In addition, alongside a comprehensive Results Report, you get free 24/7 access to a GP helpline for a year following your tests.
Find out more about preventing your cervical cancer risk.
