Prevention of Cancer
What
you eat and drink, how you live, all these factors can affect your
risk for cancer. Just certain lifestyle changes can greatly reduce
your chances of getting cancer.
Cigarette smoking
is the major single cause of cancer mortality in
the United States. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death
in our society, but yet people still seem do it. If you just stop
or cut back on smoking,
drinking,
or using other harmful
substances you will decrease dramatically your chances of getting
many types of cancer.
Another important element in preventing cancer is limiting your sun exposure. A sunburn will fade, but damage to your skin remains and can eventually cause cancer. Just a few things you can do are: limit the time that you are in the sun, wear protective clothing, always drink plenty of water, and apply a high SPF sunscreen every hour. Sun-safe habits should begin in childhood and last a lifetime.
Eating
right, being active, and maintaining a healthy weight are important
ways to reduce your risk of cancer—as well as heart disease
and diabetes. You should make sure that throughout your life you
eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise.
One final thought is that if you can't prevent cancer, the next
best thing you can do to protect your health is to detect it early.
Recognizing symptoms, getting regular check-ups, and performing
self-exams are just a few ways you can do this.