One in three of us are estimated to get some form of cancer at a point in our lives, but many types of this disease may be preventable. In certain cases, their progress can be delayed.
There are particular things that we can do to help reduce our overall risk of cancer.
Body awareness
Numerous cancers can be cured, provided they are detected early. One way of reducing your risk is to be aware of any changes in your body that you cannot account for. The concept of body awareness simply means knowing your body and what is right for you.
| For instance, being aware of moles or any unexplained lumps or numbness that are new. General symptoms to be mindful of are: - changed appearance of a mole or a lump
- a sore that will not heal
- prolonged constipation or diarrhoea
- unexplained weight loss
- abnormal bleeding
- persistent coughing or hoarseness
- unexplained fever
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Any one of these does not necessarily mean that you have a cancer there are often other less dramatic causes. Nevertheless, going to see your doctor if you have noticed anything irregular about your body is a good preventative measure to adopt.
By being aware of such general symptoms, you can increase the likelihood of detection. As cancers can be treated more successfully when they are treated early, this in itself will reduce your overall risk of developing the disease.
No smoking
It is not just lung cancer which is related to smoking; the reality is that smoking is known to account for one in seven new cases of all cancer, including pancreatic, renal, bladder, mouth, stomach, liver and cervical cancers. Even more alarming, only 5% of patients survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.
This is an entirely preventable statistic. At any age, to stop smoking will reduce risk. There are many support groups to help and nicotine replacement therapy is now available on prescription.
Remember, other peoples smoking is also dangerous secondary smoke can affect your health, so avoid spending time in smoky atmospheres passive smoking carries 35% of the risk of active smoking.
Protection from excessive amounts of sun
We know that excessive amounts of sun, particularly for light-skinned people, can lead to skin cancer. Avoid excessive exposure and always wear high-strength UV cream when outside in the sun.
In other words, everything in moderation! These strategies have additional benefits. They will not only reduce your chance of developing cancer, they will also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and lung disorders.
03/06/2009