According to multiple research studies, the most important risk factor of cancer is our lifestyle. As per WHO, 60% of an individual's health and quality of life depends on the lifestyle. Cancer is one of the most fatal lifestyle diseases. However, it is also a proven fact that cancers are preventable and completely curable with an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Some easy preventive measures of cancer are as follows:
- Manage Your Weight
Due to our sedentary lifestyle, we often land up staying physically inactive, thus accumulating all the unnecessary weight and in the longer run getting overweight or obese. This weight can be controlled by dedicating at least half an hour or so to any form of exercise. A much effective and an overall holistic approach to achieve overall fitness and also lose weight is yoga.
- Focus on Eating Healthy Food
With a busy lifestyle and time constraints, we often don't eat healthy food or indulge in bad eating habits. We also tend to eat irregularly, skip meals, eat junk food, etc. This has a huge impact on our health. Good nutrition is an important way by which we can lead a healthy lifestyle. Remember, all the naturally colored foods, for instance like spinach, berries, broccoli, beans, oranges, berries, peas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens are rich sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are known to prevent cell damage. Foods like processed foods, red meat, refined sugars, etc. should be avoided.
- Avoid Over-Exposure to the Sun
An over-exposure to the sun increases the risk of skin cancer. Our body needs vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to sun. However, an overexposure of the sun causes skin cancers like melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer). We can prevent these merely by a safe exposure to sun and by avoiding sunburn. You can use good sunscreens/sunblocks dealing with the exposure to sun's ultraviolet radiation.
- Quit Smoking/Tobacco
There is a common myth that smoking/tobacco causes only lung cancer. However, there are several other cancer types that are caused by tobacco. Breast cancer, cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia (a type of a blood cancer), are caused by tobacco. All these deadly cancers can be prevented just by quitting smoking. Remember, you need to decide if you want to be miserable, or motivate yourself. Whatever you do, it will always be your choice.
- Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water/liquids decreases bladder cancer risk by diluting the concentration of cancer-causing agents in our urine and helping these to flush out through our bladder.
- Avoid Poor Hygiene
There are certain cancers like the oropharyngeal and pancreas are caused by poor oral hygiene. We can prevent these by maintaining a good oral hygiene.
- Do Not Ignore the Symptoms
Cancer is generally a masked or hibernating condition which will initially not reflect any specific symptoms. However, we must not ignore and look out for these early warning signs are indicative of cancer:
Unexplained weight loss
Unexplained loss of appetite
Unexplained pain
Unexplained fever
Fatigue
Nausea/Vomiting
Changes in bowel or bladder habits
A non-healing sore
Unusual bleeding/discharge
Lump in breasts/testicles
Difficulties in swallowing and indigestion
Changing appearance of a mole
- Avoid Unnecessary Exposure to Chemicals/Radiation
Some research studies suggest that 1/3rd of CT scans can be unnecessary. Also, high doses of radiation can trigger leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow). Hence, this overuse of radiation diagnostics should be avoided by talking to your physician about other alternatives. Also, if you work in an environment of harmful chemical, follow all the safety measures.
- Avoid Risky Behavior/Have Safe Sex
Use a condom when you have sex; unsafe sex leads to an increased risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is responsible for causing cervical cancer.
- Regular/Preventive Health Checkup
Remember, health is not everything, however without health, everything else is nothing! So be cautious about your health. Get your health checked regularly as cancer when detected at an early stage can be prevented and importantly cured completely. Get yourself screened for tests like Colonoscopy, Mammography, Pap smear test, Prostate Specific Antigen test, etc. and be assured of your health.