Could energy weapons be used to cause cancer?

Answer 1

Of course they could. One of the most well known sources of cancer is radiation, which is energy itself (whether it be UV overexposure from the sun or gamma waves from an atomic bomb). This energy could easily be turned into a weapon, which would, as a side effect, cause cancer.

Most effects from weapons are immediate, a cut from a knife, bullet hole or the loss of a limb from a mine. Long term effects might not be seen as being as 'valuable' as short term immediate effects.