The scary news is that around one out of every three people in the U.S. will come down with some kind of malignancy during their lifetime. This year alone, almost 1.4 million new cases will be diagnosed and more than 565,000 will die from cancer. After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death in America.
So can you bring your risk down of getting cancer to begin with? Yes, say scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health. They estimate that almost 75% of American cancer deaths can be prevented. Read on and find out how you can begin to guard against many forms of cancer.
Given these grave statistics, there are things you can do to protect yourself starting now.
Checkups and screening tests are an absolute must. Men from 15 to 35 should get a periodic doctor’s testicular exam along with regular self-exams. Men who are older than 50 should have regular colon cancer screening and should talk to their doctor about being screened for prostate cancer.
Well, everyone hopefully knows by now that tobacco is deadly, so avoid all types of tobacco use, including second-hand smoke.
Saturated fat and red meat seem to cause an increase in the risk for getting colon and prostate cancers, so limit charbroiled and deep-fried foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To protect yourself from heart disease, eat fish two to three times a week.
Hopefully by now, most everyone knows to exercise routinely. Physical activity of any kind has been proven to reduce the risk of colon cancer and might even help prevent prostate cancer. The good news for women is that exercise seems to bring down a woman’s risk for breast and reproductive cancers. Also, exercise can help protect you even if you don’t reduce your weight.
Speaking of weight, try to stay lean. Being obese increases your risk for getting many forms of cancer. Exercising and healthier eating will help to bring your weight down, but see your doctor first before starting an exercise or diet program.
Many people enjoy a drink now and then, but don’t over do it. Moderation really is key. Too much alcohol can increase your chances of getting cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, liver and colon. Unfortunately for women, it also increases their risk for breast cancer.
When visiting the doctor, get medical imaging only when necessary, so that you avoid over-exposure to radiation. Get your home checked for radon, because it increases your lung cancer risk. When out in the sun, protect yourself from getting skin cancer, with sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
Industrial and environmental toxins can increase our risks for getting cancer, so avoid exposure to things such as asbestos fibers, benzene and poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Try to avoid infections that can lead to cancer, including hepatitis viruses, HIV and the human papillomavirus, most of which are sexually transmitted.
Think about going on a low-dose aspirin regimen. It appears that men who take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have a lower risk for getting colon cancer. Although it is an unproven benefit that can cause gastric bleeding and side effects, low-dose aspirin protects men from heart attacks and the most common type of stroke.
Finally, make sure that you get enough vitamin D. Most experts are now recommending 800 to 1,000 IU a day, which is almost unattainable without a supplement. Also, getting about 10-15 minutes of unprotected sunlight a day can increase your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D can help reduce your risks of getting prostate cancer, colon cancer, and other malignancies.
Screening tests can assist in detecting malignancies at their earliest stages, but you should also be alert to symptoms of the disease. The American Cancer Society created this simple reminder several years ago:
The American Cancer Society’s 7 warning signs:
C: Change in bowel or bladder habits
A: A sore that does not heal
U: Unusual bleeding or discharge
T: Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
I: Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
O: Obvious change in a wart or mole
N: Nagging cough or hoarseness