CANCER PREVENTION: 7 TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR
RISK
Concerned about cancer
prevention? Take charge by making small changes in your daily life, from
eating a healthy diet to scheduling regular cancer screenings.
You've probably heard
conflicting reports about cancer prevention. Sometimes the specific
cancer-prevention tip recommended in one study or news report is advised against
in another. If you're concerned about cancer prevention, take comfort in the
fact that small changes in your daily life can make a big difference.
Consider seven real-life cancer prevention tips.
1. DON'T USE TOBACCO
Using any type of tobacco puts
you on a collision course with cancer. Smoking has been linked to various
types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney —
and chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas.
Even if you don't use tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke may increase your
risk of lung cancer.
Avoiding tobacco — or deciding
to stop using it — is one of the most important health decisions you can
make. It's also an important part of cancer prevention. If you need help
quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other
strategies for quitting.
2. EAT A HEALTHY DIET
Although making healthy
selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee cancer
prevention, it may help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:
·
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and
other foods from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.
·
Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly
those from animal sources. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and
may increase the risk of overweight or obesity — which can, in turn, increase
cancer risk.
·
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. The risk of various types of
cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver —
increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've
been drinking regularly.
3. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
AND INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE
Maintaining a healthy weight
may lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the
breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In
addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own may
lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.
As a general goal, include at
least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can
do more, even better. Try a fitness class, rediscover a favorite sport or
meet a friend for daily brisk walks.
4. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE
SUN
Skin cancer is one of the most
common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Try these tips:
·
Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays
are strongest.
·
Stay in the shade. When you're outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible.
Sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat help, too.
·
Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing
that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors,
which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.
·
Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when
you're outdoors, and reapply often.
·
Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural
sunlight.
5. GET IMMUNIZED
Cancer prevention includes
protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about
immunization against:
·
Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The
hepatitis B vaccine is routinely given to infants. It's also recommended for
certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are sexually active but not in
a mutually monogamous relationship, men who have sex with men, and health
care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body
fluids.
·
Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can
lead to cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is available to both men and women
age 26 or younger who didn't have the vaccine as an adolescent.
6. AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS
Another effective cancer
prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections
that, in turn, may increase the risk of cancer. For example:
·
Practice safe sex. Limit your number of sexual partners, and use a condom when you do
have sex. The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more
likely you are to contract a sexually transmitted infection — such as HIV or
HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the anus,
cervix, lung and immune system. HPV is most often associated with cervical
cancer, but it may also increase the risk of cancer of the anus, penis,
throat, vulva and vagina.
·
Don't share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user
can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase
the risk of liver cancer. If you're concerned about drug abuse or addiction,
seek professional help.
7. TAKE EARLY DETECTION
SERIOUSLY
Regular self-exams and
professional screening for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the
skin, colon, prostate, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of
discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask
your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.
Take cancer prevention into
your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime.
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CANCER PREVENTION - 7 Tips to Reduce Risk
