Old Blood May Help Cancer Spread
A substance in the blood of old people may promote cancer metastasis
Age and cancer
For the majority of cancers, the chance of occurring rises significantly with age. After all, more time equals more mutations. And more mutations equals a higher chance that something goes wrong in our cells, potentially leading to uncontrolled cell division, aka cancer.
Mutations are a ‘natural’ (quotation marks matter) consequence of the fact that our DNA copying mechanism is not 100% accurate. Every cell division carries the potential for an ‘error’, or mutation. (Not all mutations are bad, though.)
However, there are also external substances that can cause mutations. UV light is a well-known one. It’s no coincidence that increased exposure to UV light (such as blaring sunlight or, even worse, tanning beds) is strongly linked to an increased chance of developing skin cancer. Other external factors, such as air pollution and processed meat, are also linked to a higher chance of developing certain cancers.
But, it seems that our own bodies can make substances that can help cancer spread.
MMA helps tumors
A new study found that MMA (methylmalonic acid, and not mixed martial arts, in this…
