Cancer is perhaps the deadliest and most terrifying disease a person can have in our generation today. According to research, about 1500 people die of cancer each day, making it next to heart disease in rank. You can call it a silent killer, because it slowly eats away a person’s life. And although a huge development in the medical world has made treatment for cancer a lot easier, still, the best way to fight cancer is to stop it in its tracks. Preventing cancer is not as difficult as it may seem. In fact, the best methods you can try to deal with it are usually free.
Studying your family history of the disease is one of the first things you need to do to find out whether your risks for cancer are high or not. Cancer can be hereditary, so if a certain type of cancer runs in the family, there’s a big chance you can acquire the disease as well. If this is the case, talk to your doctor and set up an appointment where you can be screened and tested for cancer risk.
If you are not a smoker or alcohol drinker, it would be best if you never start at all. But if you are, you might want to gradually cut the habit if you want to keep cancer at bay. Tobacco smoking and exposure to it is the greatest risk factor for lung cancer. It’s also responsible for other types of health conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even degenerative brain disease. Even if you don’t put a cigarette between your lips, as long as you’re in range of someone who’s smoking incessantly, you can still be putting yourself at risk.
Excessive intake of alcohol can also have the same impact to your health as smoking. In fact, almost 4% of cancer cases are attributed to alcohol drinking. According to one study, a person’s risk for cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus can be increased by alcohol and tobacco. Not only that, it is said to increase a person’s risk for liver, rectal, colon, and breast cancer as well. To prevent cancer altogether, start doing away with these two deadly habits as soon as possible.
Another thing you can do to stay away from cancer is to practice sun-safety. We thank the sun for various reasons, but while it can be a source of life and energy, it can also be the cause of skin cancer. For your information, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and millions of people in the US alone are diagnosed with it each year. It takes time for the signs of sun damage to appear in the skin but most of the damage done is a result of cumulative exposures to harmful UV rays. It’s not only by going to the beach that you can acquire sun damage. Even by just getting a sun tan from a tanning salon can put your skin’s health at risk.
To avoid sun damage, always wear sunscreen with SPF 15 protection or higher 30 minutes before you go outside each day. Try to wear clothes that will cover your arms and the back of our hands as well, because these are the spots where signs of sun damage usually appear. Bring an umbrella or wear a large hat to protect your face, and wear sunglasses for your eyes.
The kind of food that you eat also plays a major role when it comes to preventing or delaying the onset of diseases like cancer. Some of the food that you eat on a daily basis can actually increase your cancer risk. Such foods include processed meat, sweets, and foods rich in salt and preservatives. To fight cancer, include more foods that are rich in antioxidants in your daily menu. Antioxidants help reverse the damage done by free radicals in the body. They also help boost your immune system so that your body doesn’t easily succumb to cancer and other diseases.
Moreover, try to involve yourself in physical activities as much as you can. Even thirty minutes of brisk walking each day can cut down your risk for cancer by up to 80 percent! And get enough sleep and rest too. It is during sleep time that your body heals and repairs damaged cells and tissues.
Finally, don’t forget to visit your doctor once every three months and have a general checkup. Most cancers can be stopped when detected in their early stages.
