However, cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report about 1 in 6 deaths worldwide are due to cancer.
As medical science learns more about these complex range of diseases, they also learn there are things we can do to reduce our chances of getting cancer in the first place.
A risk factor is anything that might increase your chances of acquiring an illness.
Not everyone exposed to a risk factor will get cancer and, if they do, it isn’t always possible to prove the link. Medical researchers see patterns where some people exposed to certain risk factors appear to develop cancers.
Many of these risk factors are within our control.
Cancer research UK estimates 4 in 10 cases of cancer in the United Kingdom could be prevented by changing our habits.
Reduce your risk of getting cancer by:
It is important to understand that there is no ‘safe level’ of tobacco use. The best thing you can do for your health and to reduce your chances of getting cancer is to stop. It is never too late to stop either. Studies show that people who stop smoking increase their lung capacity by 10% in 9 months. And that is only one of the benefits you can look forward to if you stop smoking. Others include:
To name a few.
That said, quitting smoking is difficult but with a plan and support the benefits to your health and wellbeing make it well worth it.
Observational research has shown that those who exercise regularly are at a reduced risk of developing cancer. Although it isn’t fully understood why increased physical activity leads to fewer cancer diagnosis it is thought to be linked to the:
That those who exercise regularly are shown to have.
Understanding the link between food and cancer is challenging. Most people eat a varied diet so it is difficult to study which foods may increase the risk of cancer. There are some long-term studies underway that hope to improve our understanding of this area. However, current scientific evidence shows some links between our diets and colon cancer, breast and stomach cancers. Try to maintain a diet that is
Alcohol use has been linked to several cancers. In the US it is thought to be responsible for 6% of diagnosis of a range of cancers including liver, mouth and throat cancer. Exactly how alcohol increases cancer risk is not entirely understood but research to date indicates in may be linked to:
The best advice when it comes to reducing cancer risk is to avoid alcohol. However, if you do choose to drink alcohol, limit your intake.
Exposure to UV light from the sun has been shown to damage the genetic material in your skin. If enough damage is caused over time this may lead to skin cancer. The best way to reduce your risk is to:
Although there is no guaranteed way of preventing cancer, by limiting your exposure to these risk factors you are helping to reduce your risk.
