Cancer is a greater health risk than it’s ever been before. However, even though it’s impossible to irradicate any risk of cancer, there are steps that can be taken to help reduce the risks or have successful treatment. This article will explore your options, so take a read.
Exercising
Exercise is believed to help cut the risk of developing cancer along with many other health problems. The forms of exercise needed don’t have to be intense, simply going for a walk for 30 minutes a day can do the trick. Exercise can help us maintain a healthy weight, boost our mental health by getting us outside, and improve our cardiovascular health. What’s more, if exercise is taken in green spaces, it can improve the quality of air that we breath, another factor in reducing cancer risk.
Diet
A healthy, balanced diet needs to feature plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and be limited on processed foods. Reducing consumption of red meats is also believed to help lower cancer risks. Eating plenty of fiber can help reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer as it keeps movement through the bowels regular. Processed meats, in particular, are thought to be linked to an increased risk of developing cancer, so should be kept to a minimum in your diet.
Early Cancer Detection Screening
Early cancer detection screening is one of the best ways to lower the risks of cancer and reduce the mortality rate. Catching cancer whilst it is still in its earlier stages gives more opportunity to carry out treatment and prevent it from spreading through the body. With early detection and treatment, there is a higher chance of making a full recovery and being able to resume a normal life. Ezra’s cancer detection resources can help detect any cancers using MRI scans, so you can receive treatment as quickly as possible. Other forms of screening for cancer include:
- Mammograms- screening for breast cancer
- Cervical cancer screening- which can detect HPV (a potential sign of cervical cancer developing)
- Prostate examinations- which looks for signs of cancers forming in the prostate
- Screening for bowel cancer
Cutting Down On Alcohol
Cutting back on the levels of alcohol you consume is one of the ways you can help reduce your risk of developing several different cancers. Heavy drinking is linked to a greater risk of cancers forming in the stomach, liver, mouth, throat, and elsewhere in the body. Alcohol doesn’t need to be completely cut out, but just reducing your intake to no more than a few drinks a week can help.
Cutting Out Smoking
It goes without saying that smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer worldwide. The dangers of smoking have long been recognized, and the number of smokers has reduced significantly. The chemicals found in smoking tobacco can damage the DNA cells of the body, causing cancers to form. Although commonly associated with lung cancer, smoking can actually increase the risks of developing cancer anywhere in the body as the chemicals enter the bloodstream.
Being Careful With UV Exposure
We all love the feeling of the sun on our skin, but UV exposure can be incredibly damaging to the largest organ of the body, our skin. Melanomas (skin cancer) can form due to the damage of the body’s cells as a result of over-exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun. If you’re planning to spend time in the sun, even when it’s not that intense, make sure to load up on the appropriate factor sun screen. You should also take time out of the sun and sit in the shade as much as possible, particularly on unusually hot days. Make sure to regularly check your skin for signs of changes such as:
- The appearance of a new mole
- Changes in the appearance of an existing mole over time
- Irregular shape moles
- Moles made up of more than one color
- Moles with itching or bleeding
Infections That Can Be Linked To Cancer
Sometimes an infection can increase the risk of developing cancerous growth. For example, a virus infection can change the genetic coding of cells in the infected body, leading to abnormal growth and cancers forming. The immune system is responsible for helping to prevent cancers forming, but can be suppressed due to an infection. This gives cancer the opportunity to grow. This isn’t to say that every person who experiences an infection will develop cancer.
If someone is already predisposed to developing cancer, however, the infection could increase the risk of it developing. Common viruses that can lead to cancer include human papillomaviruses (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although genetics has a large role to play in the risk of any one of us developing cancer, these changes to our lifestyle can give us a lesser chance of developing late-stage cancer.
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