The body constantly encounters chemicals from food, pollution, smoke, and drugs. Organs like the liver normally break them down and eliminate them. If detoxification systems work poorly, carcinogens may stay longer in the body, increasing the chance they damage DNA.

The body also detoxifies and removes excess hormones such as Estrogen. If this process is impaired, higher hormone levels may increase the risk of hormone-related cancers (e.g., breast or endometrial).