Be aware of the hidden dangers of your guilty pleasures that could cause cancer, including being busy
A sip of wine, a craving for pizza, having a full calendar may all seem like harmless aspects of life but a scientist has revealed such seemingly innocent actions could be putting you on the brink of developing cancer.
University of California's Dr Raphael Cuomo claims chronic stress, fast food, alcohol, and drugs are an almost surefire way to set yourself up for a diagnosis with the disease later in life.
In Dr Cuomo's new book Crave: The Hidden Biology Of Addiction And Cancer, he noted that the body's repetitive desire to indulge in junk food and addictive behaviors drove the body to the deadly condition: 'Crave reveals how modern habits like vaping, binge-eating, and daily cannabis use hijack our biology.'
The expert added: 'These behaviors quietly damage the body's ability to repair itself. Over time, they open the door to cancer. It is not about genetics or bad luck. It is about the choices we make every day.'
Over 600,000 Americans and more than 150,000 Brits die of various cancers every year.
After studying 'millions of patient records' from across the University of California hospitals and spending months reviewing studies on cancer biology, Dr Cuomo revealed what he says are the top habits most likely to cause the destructive illness.
Fast food
Dr Cuomo called eating fast food 'slow poison', and noted that its effects could not be seen immediately but might cause long-term damage.
Earlier this year, researchers tested more than 300 foods sold at restaurant chains and in grocery stores across America for two microscopic toxins that have been linked to cancer, infertility, and autism.
They found that of all fast-food restaurants, the salad chain Sweetgreen and coffeehouse Starbucks scored poorest.
Sweetgreen's Chicken Pesto Parm Salad and Starbucks' Matcha Latte was found to contain the highest amount of phthalates, a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and transparent.
Studies showed that phthalates, commonly used in food packaging material, imitate the body's hormones and interfere with the production of and response to natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
Some phthalates were linked to certain cancers, particularly breast cancer and lymphoma.
However, Dr Cuomo pointed towards fiber consumption as a critical part of reversing damage as it would help improve gut bacteria, reduce inflammation, and keep cells healthy.
Smoking and drinking
Smoking causes about 30 per cent of overall cancer deaths in the U.S. and is a leading cause of lung, brain, neck, and bladder cancer.
Alcohol consumption's been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, liver, and esophageal cancer. About 20,000 people die of booze-related cancers, annually.
Researchers in Germany found that a combination of drinking and smoking significantly raised the risk of colon cancer in young Americans.
Researchers analyzed two dozen studies, comparing regular drinkers and smokers with people who abstained from both.
Just 100 cigarettes in a person's lifetime - the equivalent of one per week for two years - was linked to a 59 per cent higher risk of colon cancer compared to people who never smoked.
They also found drinking alcohol every day raised the risk of developing early onset colon cancer by 39 per cent, even if it's just one or two drinks per day.
Alcohol and smoking have both been linked to cancer in the past, as they release chemicals that destroy DNA and cause cells to mutate.
Also, each daily can of beer or glass of wine further increased the chance by an additional two per cent.
In his book, Dr Cuomo noted that deep sleep is the 'most underestimated tool' to improve damage caused by addictions, such as smoking and drinking.
He explained that during consistent deep sleep, the body performs critical tasks such as repairing tissues, regulating hormones, consolidating memory, and clearing metabolic waste.
Stress
A 2024 study presented at the United European Gastroenterology congress by a group of Chinese researchers noted that a combination of chronic stress and anxiety has been linked to colorectal cancer in young people.
They explained when a body is under frequent stress, a number of healthy bacteria that live in the gut start dying off, making it easier for cancer to move in.
When the bacteria die off, tumors grow more quickly, leading to more aggressive, rapidly growing colorectal cancers.
Research from Trinity College in Ireland suggested these bacteria support the body's immune system, can protect against virus and bacteria, and prevent damage in gut cells.
Apart from this, chronic stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the body that can promote cancer growth and its spread to various parts of the body.
A constant state of stress can also weaken the immune system's ability to effectively fight off cancer cells.
However, Dr Cuomo believes that there are ways to break free from all addictions and prevent cancer development in the body.
He said: 'The real threat is not a single cocktail or slice of cake. It is the craving that drives you back again and again.
'That craving is what wears down your body's defenses. I tell people to test their control. Start with one week of abstention. Not forever. Just seven days. That short reset reveals a lot.
'You learn what your body depends on. During that time, focus on physical recovery. Sleep deeply. Move your body. Eat real food.
'Spend time with people you trust. Addiction thrives in isolation. Recovery begins with reconnection.'
Additionally, Dr Cuomo suggested replacing the habit by engaging in some form of movement, such as taking regular walks.
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Semen allergy, or seminal plasma hypersensitivity, involves developing symptoms ranging from a raised, itchy skin rash (hives) to the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis, after exposure to this bodily fluid. It has been recorded mainly in people in their 20s and 30s, although there have been fewer than 100 documented cases overall, according to a 2024 paper. The allergen most frequently linked to this sensitivity is a prostate-specific antigen, a substance that can trigger an immune response, in the seminal plasma. This is the fluid, apart from sperm, that makes up the majority of semen, and the allergy is to a protein within it, rather than the sperm itself. It's not clear exactly what is occurring in the body in people with seminal plasma hypersensitivity, explains Jonathan Bernstein, a professor of clinical medicine, focusing on allergy and immunology, at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine in the US. Bernstein says that there aren't good animal models for seminal plasma hypersensitivity, or enough humans with the condition to enable large-scale research. Cases of semen allergy can be localised or systemic. When the symptoms are localised and limited to around the area of contact, this is usually reported as occurring with or around the vagina. But in one Spanish case report, a woman who had never experienced an allergic reaction after vaginal sex lost consciousness and developed other symptoms of anaphylaxis following anal sex. She was diagnosed with hypersensitivity to seminal fluid. A woman in the US also experienced swelling and rash in a non-sexual situation, when her skin came into contact with ejaculate. The local symptoms can include severe pain and burning immediately after intercourse. "It's [reportedly] like acid," Bernstein says. One of his patients described it as "like a thousand needles being stuck into your vagina." A person might be sensitive to the semen of multiple partners or just one, Bernstein notes. Diagnosis typically involves a skin prick test using a fresh sample of seminal fluid from a sexual partner. In his practice, Bernstein typically sees women in monogamous relationships with men, often when they're trying to get pregnant. Some people travel long distances to consult with him, as there aren't many authorities on semen allergy. Many patients get brushed aside or are started on aggressive steroid treatments because medical professionals don't know what to do with them, Bernstein says. However, Bernstein explains that his practice is able to help just about everyone with a semen allergy. There is a notable absence of data about semen allergies among men who have sex with men. Bernstein says he has never seen a case of this, though it's unclear why. He wondered if the symptoms could be related to the particular conditions within the vagina, though this doesn't explain the case where it occurred after anal sex between a man and a woman. Treatment options One previous treatment Bernstein trialled involved courses of injections of a partner's semen within or under the skin to desensitise the patient. This is similar to the treatment for post orgasmic illness syndrome, a rare and often-debilitating condition where men are sensitive to their own ejaculate. But this was costly: "patients were having to pay for that because there was a lot of laboratory work in preparing the samples," Bernstein says. Bernstein and his colleagues found that it was reportedly equally safe and effective to localise the treatment, in a one-time procedure of about two hours. First, they separated the sperm from the seminal fluid. Then they diluted the seminal fluid to one part in a million or one in ten million, depending on how severe the patient's reactions were. Then, at intervals of 15 minutes, they inserted the fluid into the patient's vagina. They gradually used stronger concentrations of the fluid, so that the patient developed a greater tolerance. Throughout, they continued monitoring the patient. As a result, "they don't tend to have many systemic reactions and they are able to tolerate unprotected intercourse thereafter" with at least that partner, Bernstein says. In general, hypersensitivity to seminal plasma remains often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. There's even less information about certain other fluids transmitted during sex. There is almost no published research on possible allergy to cervicovaginal fluid – a liquid secreted by the cells of the cervix and vagina, which helps to lubricate this region and provide some protection from pathogens. However, Marek Jankowski believes that he's seen at least one person with this condition. Jankowski, an assistant professor of dermatology and venereology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland, says he once treated a patient who came to him after seeing a host of other doctors. The patient reported that about 30 minutes after vaginal intercourse, his genitals would become red and itchy. His face would also itch after cunnilingus. To the patient, this seemed like an allergy, but doctors ridiculed or rejected this idea, says Jankowski. However, Jankowski kept an open mind, looking up other cases of potential allergy to cervicovaginal fluid secreted by women during sexual activity. "Ultimately the patient responded well to antihistamines," he reports. The case also prompted Jankowski and his colleagues to carry out a study, published in 2017. The researchers surveyed other dermatologists as well as people who might be experiencing this condition. One-fifth of the dermatologists who responded had witnessed such cases, they reported, though many doctors remained sceptical that the condition existed. According to this research, sufferers reported redness, itch, burning, swelling and hives following contact. Their reports led Jankowski and his colleagues to estimate that allergy to cervicovaginal fluid was as common as semen allergy, which is thought to affect at least tens of thousands of people in the US alone. However, "the current level of evidence for cervicovaginal fluid allergy phenomenon is only circumstantial and further research in this field would be necessary," Jankowski explains. One difference between allergies to semen versus cervicovaginal fluid is that condoms would be unlikely to relieve the symptoms of any allergy to the latter, since condoms would not shield the groin and scrotum. But both antihistamines and repeat exposure appeared to help the survey respondents with their allergy to cervicovaginal fluid, according to the survey results of Jankowski and his coauthors. "As [the] majority of cases identified were young adults early in the sexual relationship, the flame of passion was apparently stronger than the discomfort, and repetitive [exposure] to the allergen led to desensitisation," Jankowski notes. This differs from seminal plasma hypersensitivity, which is not known to resolve itself naturally. For the people who are allergic to some aspect of their partner, the consequences can be grave. Maura believes that her semen sensitivity played a part in her and her partner's decision to not have children, because she expects that it would have been expensive to find a workaround that enabled her to avoid exposure to semen. The emotional impacts can be complex, for both sufferers and their partners. While Maura's relationship is safe and her partner is happy to use condoms, "he did tell me that he was offended by the idea that I was allergic to his semen," she says. 'He doesn't blame me for that, just the universe." -- For trusted insights into better health and wellbeing rooted in science, sign up to the Health Fix newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
