There are a lot of different cancers out there, and a lot of theories about why they exist. A recent study has taken the blame off diet, genetics, and other outside factors, and simply suggested that it is a matter of bad luck in cell division.

The study was done at John Hopkin’s University and looked extensively at 31 different types of cancer. Out of the 31 that they assessed, they concluded that only nine of them could be attributed directly to lifestyle choices or a bad case of genetics.

Rather they found that most cancers occur when there is a random mix up in stem cell division, and one letter in the DNA is swapped by accident. Stem cells are usually the only kind of cell that ever mutate into a tumor, even though overall they make up a small amount of body cells in general.

Some of the cancers that the researchers included as the random, bad luck occurrences included brain tumors, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, the type of lung cancer that occurs in people who do not smoke, and brain cancers of the head, legs, pelvis and arms.

Ideally this finding will draw more attention to finding better ways to prevent, detect, and treat different kinds of cancers. It is important to point out that the study did not include cancers such as breast and prostrate cancer, and that other cancers like skin cancer and lung cancer have clearly defined risk factors associated with their occurrence. By no means should this study be considered a reason to throw away preventative lifestyle choices towards healthier living in general.

There is another answered question not addressed in the study, which is why stem cells can divide at differing rates in different tissues and people. It can not be completely ruled out at this time that the variations that occur could be attributed to other genetic or environmental factors that have not yet been addressed.

This study does for the first time have an explanation for why certain cancers are more likely than others however. The researchers found that the areas of the body that require more cells to divide to remain healthy are more likely to have mutating cells that lead to cancer.

Colon cancer for example, occurs more than cancer of the small intestine because the cells in the colon divide twice as fast. The more mutations that occur in cells, the more likely it is for a tumor to develop. The body grows and renews itself through cell division when it is functioning properly, so coming up with new ways to screen for cancer potential is crucial.

This “bad luck” explanation also provides an idea as to why some people who have been exposed to a lot of cancer causing agents and do not ever develop the disease. There is no way to know which way the cells of the body will go, so choosing the healthiest and least risky options for lifestyle choices is most definitely the way to go. Avoiding too much sun, steering clear from cigarettes, getting regular exercise, and smart clean eating are still suggested to lower cancer risks.