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Do you like jumping jacks? Me neither, it makes me pee. I like squats and dumb bells. Similarly, I like grocery shopping— to carry several bags at once to count as arm work out. Oh, and also getting the trash out from kitchen to the garage. I wonder what makes me enjoy it. Two birds in one stone maybe? I used to go to Burn Boot Camp for group work outs. The style and welcoming environment were perfect. If only I could have managed to keep going with my little kids, who did not want to stay at home or sit in the child watch. I canceled my membership only to notice I still needed to pay for 1/2 of the remaining months. Read the agreements you sign, my friend. Do you read Ken Cheng’s jokes on linked in? Aren’t they just hilarious? 🤭 In one post, he mentioned that he found a shrinking ray to shrink his —nonexisting— kids. And his life turned out to be wonderful for 72 hours 😂 My husband said sending kids to school is like a shrinking ray. I was giving “wise” old women advice to my lab tech; that 30-40 years are just spent raising kids. I wonder when I will have more freedom to go to a gym or enjoy time out with a friend in a coffee shop.  Did you read about the new concept of “stay at home girlfriend” for the new generation? Apparently these women are choosing to be not married and not working but doing chores with dyson vacuums to post videos on tiktok to be influencers. This could be a personal preference. But where is the legal—binding—responsible aspect of this relationship, when something goes wrong? It sounds like the definition of vulnerability to me. Why do we not advocate for stronger and independent girls?? What is it that I am looking for scroll after scroll in linked in, like seeking deep? There must be some knowledge that will change my life. There must be some key crucial information that I cannot afford to miss. What is it that I need to discover? It surely is not on linked in. It may not even exist. My qualifying project for my PhD education was on neural crest cell migration. My proposed model was using Xenopus laevis . There is a remarkable turning point during embryogenesis that triggers the migration of neural crest cells, which later on shape the spine of the animal. There are way too many miraculous events happening in embryogenesis. Why did I get stuck on neural crest cells migration? It appeared to be a determined move. Maybe a predetermined path to walk.  What changes, when we are—no longer an embryo—but rather a bigger clump of daughter cells? Maybe we are still walking the pre determined path. Would neural crest cells worry about the decisions they are making or the direction they are headed?  We are hearing stories from friends who received an email from current administration calling them to voluntarily resign with a 8 month payment into the future. I also hear that this trend is spreading, where the promise of 8 month salary may not be kept. At least for now, we have good news that the funded grants will not be impacted. I may have enough time to finish my Masters. I feel proud to know the difference between "relative risk" and "odds ratio" now, and--no they are not the same. My goals for next week is to do a burn experiment, clipping, making MetaboanalystR work and my course work. Oh we will also have 30 high school students getting a tour of the labs. I notice these are all sounding very different from each other. Maybe Dr Owens was right, that I am a “kid in a candy store”.  This week, I found myself wanting to snuggle back into my books at the end of the day. Get back into my book and live there for a while. I finished last night the "Keeper of Happy Endings". Now I need a new place to migrate—mentally—and exist in that new dimension. How do I know if the day I lived was "productive enough"? Was it earned or wasted ? How do I know if my scribblings are worth calling a 'blog post'? If you found yourself contemplating and enjoyed being deep in the sea of , I would call that an earned blog post for the day 👌

You may recall my recent post where I talked about “What a Cell Does in a Day?”  🕰️Today, let’s talk about cancer cells. At their core, cancer cells are just like any other cells—except they don’t stop dividing . 🛑➡️📈A normal cell has regulated activities  and responds to its environment appropriately. But cancer cells adapt  in ways that give them an unfair advantage  to grow uncontrollably. 🔍 What Does Cancer Look Like? When we performed necropsies on tumors , I had the same question. 🤔 The subcutaneous tumor model  we used formed a chunky, ball-like tumor  under the skin. With careful detachment, we could remove it like a solid mass. Other tumor models  involved injecting cancer cells into the prostate . This technique, called survival surgery , allows us to study tumor growth in a specific organ . Ideally, the tumor should stay there—but if left long enough, it can spread to other sites . This process is called metastasis . 🔄 How Does Cancer Spread? Cancer cells migrate  in three main ways:🩸 Through the bloodstream 🧵 Through the lymphatic system 🏃 By physically moving to nearby tissue The farther a cancer cell travels, the worse the prognosis —because it becomes harder to treat . To migrate, cancer cells undergo Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) —a process where cells change their phenotype  to become more mobile. Understanding EMT is a key focus in cancer research  because stopping it could prevent metastasis. 🧬 What Makes Cancer Cells So Aggressive? Cancer cells have some unique tricks  up their sleeve: 🔹 Uncontrolled cell division —they ignore signals to stop growing. 🔹 Adaptation to low oxygen (hypoxia) —they alter their metabolism to survive. 🔹 hTERT activation —they extend their telomeres , making them immortal . 🔹 Hijacking other cells —they manipulate normal cells to support their growth. 💊 Why Is It So Hard to Treat Cancer? 1️⃣ Cancer drugs can harm normal cells , making treatment challenging. 2️⃣ Even if most cancer cells are destroyed, a few survivors can regrow the tumor. 🤔 Is Cancer an Evolutionary Mistake? Why would cells evolve to divide uncontrollably? One theory is that cancer cells try to escape mortality  by continuously dividing. But instead of evolving, they cause disease. And why do some cancer-causing genes get passed down ? Likely because cancer develops later in life , after genes have already been inherited by the next generation. 🌍 Is It Just Genes? No! Environmental and lifestyle factors  also contribute to cancer risk. 🏡🚬🥦 We’ll dive deeper into these next— stay tuned!

Today was a rainy day. As I drove to work, I found myself singing: This morning There is rain in RVA My eyes fill with tears, for no reason Innocent as if listening to mommy I cried this morning Another masterpiece from MFO . (Link in comment) Sometimes, when I explain things to my son, he simply responds with an "Ohh, okay." I suppose that is the innocence level. It made me think about rain—like clouds shedding tears. Does it hurt them? Or does it cleanse the air and the land? It certainly brings life and blooms flowers. I began contemplating how little control we have over many of our daily actions. Driving, for example, feels mostly automated—unless I need to change lanes or react to danger, I just go. Walking is similar; I notice blackbirds by the train tracks, a squirrel wedged in the trash can door, the scent of leaky downtown pipes, the hum of passing cars. Yet, my body moves without much instruction from me. At work, we performed necropsies yesterday and today. Even that felt somewhat automated, aside from ensuring I picked the correct tubes. Many things benefit from this kind of autopilot mode. A car, for instance, runs more efficiently when in gear. Our brains also prefer tasks that require minimal conscious effort—reflexive actions, habitual behaviors. If money in a bank account could multiply itself without intervention, that too would be an ideal autopilot scenario. Even at a cellular level, we operate on autopilot. Around 80% of our genes remain in a closed state, with only a fraction actively transcribing. Cells experience bursts of transcription during development or in response to disease, but for the most part, they function automatically. Then there is the level of numbing the brain. Some people seek unconsciousness, an escape from worries, attempting to erase certain experiences. Unfortunately, many such "solutions" lead to addiction. But is there any benefit to this stage? We willingly go numb when we sleep. In my family, bedtime is a priority. We rush to ensure the kids brush their teeth and join the world of sleep—a realm of unconsciousness that we embrace for its cleansing, reorganization of thoughts, and reinforcement of memories and learning. We can clearly see the benefit in this instance. How in control of your actions do you feel? What are some things you do on autopilot?

What Does It Mean to Change? I was born naked, like all of you. I went to school as normal. 🙂 When I started college, I began wearing a hijab—not because of family or societal pressure, but because it felt comforting. My friends wore it, and it gave me a sense of belonging. Fast forward, I moved to the United States, completed a PhD and postdocs, all while wearing my hijab. Then I started teaching at William & Mary, and something shifted. I wanted to be more approachable, for my students to feel comfortable reaching out to me. Maybe part of me felt like belonging required adapting—blending in, being more like them. Fast forward again, it’s 2025, and I find myself returning to my hijab version. Dizzying journey, I know. 😅 I am digging into my soul to find the real reason. One night in Ramadan, after sahoor, I was on my phone- on Amazon app, looking for easy hijabs. There was this feeling that sunk in, which was more of an invitation, that I was scared to ignore. I thought at a rational level that I spend most of my days in the lab with experimental models, I no longer need to present two personalities. I felt the urge to look like the "stereotype" that I should be representing. Reassuring me that I was "more unfit" with the other way around, the outcome was pleasantly received on many people that I interact with often. Why Do We Write? “What is your goal in writing?” my husband keeps asking. I asked him the same question: What is your goal in writing papers and publications? Maybe we all have a deep need to reach out and share. To process thoughts, to empty them from our minds onto paper or screens. Most people won’t care, and that’s okay. But writing can be a bridge— ✅ To connect with others who feel the same. ✅ To find understanding, even if just curiosity. ✅ To create continuity in our own story. The Hijab and Identity I feel like I am still the same person—the same brain, the same jokes, the same way of seeing the world. But in Muslim communities, hijab is a big deal. Some men even speak of it in extreme terms, linking it to virginity, purity, or exclusivity to one’s husband. These views never resonated with me. But they exist. And navigating that external weight of meaning has always been part of the journey. Is the World Real or Just Imagination? My best friend, Gizem, used to say: "What if all people and the entire environment around you are just imagination? What if it’s only you, and everything else is created in your mind?" It’s possible. If so, I wouldn’t need to worry about what people think or say. 🙂 But in a world where we still believe in our shared realities, I know I will have to explain my changes. I hope that through this, I can find understanding, connection, and smooth transitions in my own story. For continuity’s sake, I also imagined how we will all rise "naked" in the Hereafter. There, we will finally see how much any of this truly mattered. What About You? Have you ever experienced a big change in your life? How did people around you react? Did you find supporters, or was it a lonely road? Let’s talk. 💬

Every treatment we use today—from common painkillers to cancer therapies—has gone through a rigorous process called clinical trials. These trials happen in phases. Each phase asks different questions and plays a vital role in bringing safe, effective treatments to patients. Phase 1: Is it safe? Goal: Assess safety and determine dosage. Participants: 20–100 healthy volunteers (or sometimes patients). Focus: How the drug behaves in the body (pharmacokinetics), side effects, maximum tolerated dose. Milestone: First-in-human dose. Calculations of dose limiting toxicity (DLT) are made. Phase 2: Does it work? Goal: Evaluate efficacy and monitor for side effects. Participants: 100–300 patients with the condition. Focus: Initial look at whether the treatment works; refine dosing. Milestone: Establish primary endpoints for effectiveness. Phase 3: Is it better than what we already have? Goal: Confirm effectiveness, monitor adverse reactions, compare with standard treatments. Participants: 1,000–3,000+ patients. Focus: Randomized controlled trials across multiple sites; data used for FDA submission. Milestone: NDA/BLA submission to regulatory agencies. What Comes After Phase 3? Approval & Phase 4 (Post-marketing surveillance): Monitor long-term safety, rare side effects, and effectiveness in real-world use. Sometimes Clinical Trials Are Terminated Some clinical trials don’t make it to the finish line—and that’s not always a bad thing. Trials can be terminated early for several reasons: 🚨 Safety Concerns If participants are experiencing unexpected serious side effects, the trial may be halted to protect them. 🧪 Lack of Efficacy If it's clear the treatment isn’t working, continuing the study might be unethical or a waste of resources. 📉 Futility Interim analyses might show that even if the trial runs to completion, it’s unlikely to reach a meaningful result. 💰 Funding or Operational Issues Trials are expensive! Some are stopped due to financial constraints or problems with participant recruitment. ✔️ Overwhelming Efficacy Rarely, a treatment works so well in early phases that continuing the trial might delay patient access. This could lead to early approval or compassionate use programs. 🔄 Seamless Clinical Trial Design Modern trials are becoming smarter, faster, and more adaptive. 💡 What is a Seamless Design? Instead of stopping a trial between phases, seamless designs allow trials to move from one phase to the next without interruption—especially between Phase 2 and 3. ⚙️ How It Works: Uses the same group of patients/data from an earlier phase. Allows real-time adjustments (like changing dosage or dropping ineffective treatment arms). Speeds up the drug development process and reduces costs. ✨ Benefits: More efficient, especially for rare diseases or urgent needs. Patients don’t have to wait for new trial enrollment. Regulators can review a continuous data stream. I hope this is helpful to understand phases of trials. The journey to become an approved drug is a long and expensive one, which confirms safety, efficacy and benefit to patients. 👍

This week in my 602 course I learned about the Poisson distribution. The Poisson distribution is a fundamental tool in statistics for modeling count data — situations where the outcome is the number of times an event occurs in a fixed interval of time, space, or another dimension. This distribution assumes that events happen independently and at a constant average rate. When the mean (which is also the variance) increases, this approaches binomial distribution, and if it increases even more it approaches a normal distribution. Here is a photo of the French mathematician. 🙏 When to Use Poisson Models? Poisson models are used when: The outcome variable is a count (e.g., number of ER visits, crashes, phone calls). Events are rare and occur independently. The variance of the outcome is equal to its mean (equidispersion). Using "person-time" allows for each person's follow up time to contribute meaningfully. Below we see 18 person years total. Modeling Poisson in R Here is a basic example using R: # Simulated data set.seed(123) data <- data.frame( age = sample(20:60, 100, replace = TRUE), gender = sample(c("M", "F"), 100, replace = TRUE), exposure = runif(100, 1, 10) ) data$events <- rpois(100, lambda = 0.3 * data$exposure) # Fit Poisson regression model <- glm(events ~ age + gender + offset(log(exposure)), data = data, family = poisson) summary(model) This fits a Poisson regression with an offset to account for varying exposure time. Problem 1: Overdispersion A core assumption of Poisson regression is that the variance equals the mean. However, in real-world data, variance often exceeds the mean. This is called overdispersion. This could happen if the model is missing an interaction term, has some non linear covariates, or missing an important variable. Symptoms of Overdispersion: Residual deviance much greater than degrees of freedom Large standard errors Poor model fit Fixing Overdispersion: One common way is to use: Negative Binomial regression: Adds a dispersion parameter. library(MASS) nb_model <- glm.nb(events ~ age + gender + offset(log(exposure)), data = data) Problem 2: Zero Inflation Some count data have more zeros than expected under a Poisson model. This is common in biological, health, or social data. This leads to zero inflation. Consider the below red graph for the number of hospital visits in a year. There could be patients who never go see a doctor. There could be patients just happened to not go this year. The zeros are inflated. Solution: Zero-Inflated Models Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models use a two-part process: A logistic model to predict excess zeros (who are always zero, versus happened to be zero) A count model for non-zero counts (remove the predicted always zeros and refit poisson) library(pscl) zip_model <- zeroinfl(events ~ age + gender | 1, data = data, dist = "poisson") Summary Poisson regression is powerful for modeling rates and counts, incidence rate in epidemiology is a bis area for this, but real-world data could violate its assumptions. Be on the lookout for overdispersion and zero inflation, and use alternative models like Negative Binomial or Zero-Inflated Poisson when needed. I hope you find this post helpful! Let's keep learning!

👶🥗 Pregnancy & Healthy Eating — We’ve Got Work To Do A new NIH study reveals a surprising truth: most people in the U.S. don’t follow healthy diets during or after pregnancy  — despite knowing how important nutrition is for parent and baby health. 📉 Using data from 10,000+ people, the study shows: Very few pregnant or postpartum individuals meet national dietary guidelines. People with lower income and education are especially affected. Gaps in nutrition persist even months after giving birth. 🧠 Why it matters:What we eat in pregnancy isn’t just about today — it lays the foundation for long-term health  outcomes for both parent and child. Poor diets can increase risks of: Low birth weight Gestational diabetes Obesity and heart disease later in life 🛍️ Access, affordability, and culturally relevant food support are critical. It’s not about blaming  individual choices — it’s about building systems that make healthy options accessible and sustainable . Let’s make maternal health holistic  — support policies that bring nutritious food, education, and equity into every community. 📎 Read the full update from NIH here: Healthy eating not common during and after pregnancy

🧠🥦 Want to age well? Your midlife diet really matters -- big time.  A new long-term study in Nature Medicine followed 100,000+ people for 30 years and found that people who stuck to healthy diets in midlife were more likely to age in good health. ✅ The best-performing diet was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) – rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats, with less red meat, processed foods, and sugar.  📊 People in the healthiest diet group had up to 86% better odds of aging well — meaning they were more likely to avoid chronic diseases, maintain physical and mental health, and live past 70. 🍩 On the flip side? Diets high in ultra processed foods (think chips, soda, fast food) were linked to significantly lower chances of aging in good shape. What can we do? If there was a mark on the food packages showing how ultra processed they are, we could have made more informed decisions. Not only considering the ingredients though, both ingredients and the processing that the food is going through.  This study shows it’s not just about living longer — it’s about staying sharp, mobile, and happy while doing it. 👵🏽👴🏽💚 So, the earlier you start eating smart, the better your shot at a healthier, brighter future. ✅ Foods that boost healthy aging: Vegetables (+0.86) Fruits Whole Grains Nuts & Legumes Healthy Fats ❌ Foods that hurt healthy aging: Red/Processed Meats Sugary Drinks Ultra-Processed Foods (worst impact) Here’s a visual summary (from the paper) of the best and worst foods for healthy aging👇 Do you know some people who aged in an extremely healthy way? 🔗 Read the full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03570-5

Do you suffer from joint pain? Do you love crusty, crispy breads, toasted breads, and chips? These could be linked! In Turkey, bread is a staple at every meal. To be considered a good homemaker, you’d better get fresh, crispy-crusted bread from the bakery every single day. Inside this golden loaf? Pretty much air—you can break it in half with your hands and stuff it with tomato slices, feta cheese, and olives for a quick teenage meal. When I was a kid, I loved nibbling on the crust on my way home from the bakery. By the time I got home, my mom would yell, “What the hell happened to this bread?!” 😂 Joint Pain in Turkey According to this article , 15% of adults in Turkey experience knee pain ( 26,4% in women and 6,2% in men) . Many seek medical treatments, from stem cell injections into joints to alternative remedies like: Chiropractic adjustments Acupuncture Cupping therapy Leech treatments (Yes, really!) But what if this aging-related joint pain isn’t just about wear and tear? What if it’s related to diet, specifically to AGEs in crispy, crusted breads? What Are AGEs? And Why Should You Care? AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products) are compounds formed when sugars react with proteins at high temperatures. Think: 🔥 Honey roasted Peanuts 🔥Crusty bread 🔥 Toasted foods 🔥 Chips and croutons. Scientists have been feeding experimental models bread crust to test its effects on bone and joint health. The results? Not great. 📉 Bread crust reduced bone stiffness by 50%. 📉 Collagen fibers in joints were damaged. 📉 The tail (a flexible structure in experimental models) became stiff. Here are some direct research findings: 📌 “Food-derived AGEs may alter tendon properties and lead to tendon injuries.” ( PubMed ) 📌 “Dietary AGEs can cause cross-links in tendons, affecting tissue compliance and tendon health.” ( PubMed ) 📌 “Consumption of Maillard Reaction Products (MRPs) leads to lower bone size and changes in mechanical behavior.” ( PubMed ) How This Changed My Thinking My husband recently started seeing a chiropractor for neck pain that causes uncomfortable popping sounds in his ears. I suggested he see an internist, but he opted for massages first. The chiropractor told him his body and head are slightly tilted to one side. This made me reevaluate my own posture. I always carry my computer tote on my right shoulder—is it tilting my body too? 🤔 And then, after reading the bread crust studies, I looked at our high-capacity toaster with suspicion. I even asked my husband to reconsider his chip addiction. Croutons? Maybe not the best addition to my salad after all. What I’m Doing Now I can’t stop aging or aging-related discomfort, but here’s what I’m taking every day to support my body: (Does not constitute medical advice) ✅ Halal multivitamin ✅ Halal vitamin D (could be once a week) ✅ Creatine gummies (could be once a week) ✅ Probiotic gummies ✅ Garlique (garlic extract) ✅ Omega 3 (could be once week) ✅ Fiber pills I’ve also started opting for soft, no-crust breads whenever possible. What About You? Do you have memories with crispy bread? Do you or someone you know suffer from joint pain? Have they tried specific remedies—like boiling cherry stems or other traditional treatments? Drop a comment! Let’s discuss. 👇😊

Sometimes our experiments get very complicated and there are some tricks that can help prepare better. Today I want to share with you what helps me navigate high-stress experiment days like these. 1️⃣ Plan, Plan, Plan Some days, I dedicate time just to planning: mapping out protocols, gathering supplies, and mentally walking through the entire experiment to anticipate challenges. This saves me from last-minute surprises. 2️⃣ Keep Master Protocols Every time I learn a new experiment, I start with someone’s written protocol and then refine it. I add details like exact locations of materials, catalog numbers, and whether incubation for 1 hour vs. 2 hours really matters. The little details can make a big difference. 3️⃣ Check Inventory (Before It’s Too Late) Ever started an experiment only to realize you’re out of a critical reagent? I’ve had my fair share of running from lab to lab, hunting for 5 µL of something I thought I had. Now, I check inventory before starting. Lesson learned. 4️⃣ Work in Teams For big experiments—having a helper is a game changer. Team-tagging with co-authors or lab mates makes everything more efficient (and keeps you sane). 5️⃣ Stay Clean & Organized Decluttering, decontaminating, and staying as clean as possible actually makes a difference. If nothing else, it makes you feel better. Trust me. 6️⃣ Reward Yourself Difficult experiment ahead? I mentally prepare by setting up a reward system. My personal trick? Moving beads from one container to another as a little victory tracker. Sounds silly, but it works! What’s one experiment or protocol you struggled with but eventually mastered? Any tricks that made it easier?

Yesterday in My Dream… I told the driver of a car that I hitchhiked that I was doing a PhD in Computer Science. (What kind of subconscious is this?) The road was dark, endless. I couldn't see the end. So, I decided to hitchhike. Then, I saw a mini Turtle car—light green, safe-looking—so I trusted it. I held up my arm, and inside was another student. The driver’s seat? In the back. 🚗💨 Through the darkness, we drove, and we arrived in the city. Antalya, apparently. I asked him, “Which way do you need to go?” He said, “I need to turn right.” So, I got off at the intersection. Then, I noticed I forgot my belongings in the car. My phone and a red paper bag were left behind. I went back and found them neatly placed on the sidewalk. How very considerate of my subconscious driver. Logistic Regression in My Dreams?! I had been studying logistic regression all weekend. Apparently, my brain decided this meant I was doing a PhD in Computer Science. 💭 This is why we don’t cram for exams, people. To recover, we watched Güldür Güldür to reset our happiness levels. One quote stood out: “If your conscious is a mirror, then your subconscious is the cover behind the mirror.” (Aynanın ardındaki sır.) Profound. You may want to watch how Turkish comedians view Trump as well. :) How to Become a Millionair Using LinkedIn Overnight 1️⃣ Take a deep breath in. 2️⃣ Drop the “e” from millionaire. That’s it. 💸😂 P.S. I should acknowledge my inspiration: A black van driving in front of me on I-64 West today. www.millionair.com 🤦‍♀️ P.P.S. My mental state was perfectly prepped for this joke after listening to this song 20 times: 🎵 P.P.P.S. Also restarted my Vitamin D pills  (5000 IU/day), because, you know, forced richness starts with forced serotonin. 🌞💊 From Forced Happiness to Forced Education: Statistics Edition My next goal? A forced education on statistics formulas. Time to drive pluripotency of my grey region neurons to wake up, proliferate, and make new connections. I even suggested an algorithm to ChatGPT yesterday. It said, “This already exists. It’s called UMAP.” 🤡 This was as funny as ChatGPT asking me to verify that I am a human. BRO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Final Thoughts: Water Your Plants 🌱 Enjoy your Tuesday. Take your vitamins. And remember: Water your plants, or they’ll use t-SNE to dimensionality reduce themselves into the void. 🌱

In my last post, we talked about what happens when a cell becomes a cancer cell. Today, let’s talk about environmental and preventable risk factors that contribute to cancer.. We know that genetics plays a role, and some cancers are inherited. But beyond genetics, there are layers of risk factors that we can control. 🔬 Have You Heard of Epigenetics? Epigenetics refers to factors that influence gene expression without changing the actual DNA sequence. It can protect us or increase our risk of disease. Think of your DNA as a thread wrapped around small balls called nucleosomes. The accessibility of DNA is controlled by epigenetic modifications. 🧬 If DNA is tightly packed (heterochromatin), it’s less accessible. 🛑 If DNA is looser (euchromatin), certain genes—including disease-causing ones—may become active. 🏠 How Does the Environment Influence Cancer Risk? Your lifestyle and surroundings can modify chromatin structure, making harmful genes more or less active. For example: ✅ If you inherit harmful mutations but they stay silent, your risk is lower. ❌ If your environment triggers those genes to become active, your risk increases. ⚠️ Key Environmental Risk Factors for Cancer: 1️⃣ Unhealthy Diet & Chronic Inflammation – Obesity, ultra-processed foods, and inflammatory triggers increase cancer risk. 🥤🍔 2️⃣ Tobacco smoking, air pollution, asbestos exposure.  3️⃣ Chemical Exposure – Certain cosmetics, hair products, plastics, and banned chemicals can disrupt cellular health. 🧴☠️ 4️⃣ Disrupted sleep, impacting circadian rhythm. 5️⃣ Ultraviolet light exposure is not good for skin.  6️⃣ Tattoos? – A recent study suggests that tattoo inks may pose risks. 🖋️ 🏃 What Can We Do? While we can’t control our genes, we can lower our risk by: 🥗 Eating whole, natural foods and reducing inflammatory triggers. 🚿 Minimizing chemical exposure—be mindful of cosmetics & household products. 🤔 Considering the long-term effects before making lifestyle choices (e.g., tattoos). 🔄 What Else Comes to Mind? What other preventative measures do you think we should talk about? Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ We will talk more about ultra processed foods next.