There was a time when we made our pipes from lead. Such is the unfortunate fact of progress, that we only find that we’re doing some incredibly dangerous things well after the fact.
One new study finds that trying to stay young forever with anti-aging… may actually facilitate cancer.
How Cancer Develops, and How Anti-Aging Efforts Might Help That
Cancer is the result of combinations of mutations in cells, all of which lead to abnormal growth levels.
For example, they may divide more rapidly, live longer than they’re supposed to, or lose the signals that tell them to stop growing. When enough of these abnormalities combine, a tumor is formed.
When these abnormalities combine with a mutation that allows cancerous cells to cross into parts of the body they normally shouldn’t, the tumor becomes malignant.
So what does anti-aging have to do with it? Essentially, aging causes some cells to lose functionality. Anti-aging of course tries to get rid of these cells: gray hairs, spots on the skin, and so forth.
But what if by eliminating these cells you were creating a perfect environment for cancer to grow?
Opposed Processes
In a certain sense, cancer cells are cells that are functioning too well. They grow rapidly, they’re far too resilient, and they cause problems for the body as a whole.
But of course, they’re as dependent on the body’s resources as any other cell. So getting rid of the “sluggish” cells that tell us we’ve aged means more resources for those cells.
Thus you have two opposed processes. Getting rid of cancerous cells is obviously ideal, but may lead to more obvious aging as now you have more sluggish cells than functional.
The good news? By anti-aging, we’re not talking about the creams and treatments you get to reduce the appearance of aging. Rather, anything that actually stops the natural aging of cells.
Worried about your anti-aging treatments? Talk to your primary care physician today.