February is National Cancer Prevention Month
Research has shown that more than 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed and nearly half of all deaths from cancer in the United States can be attributed to preventable causes – things like smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun.
As a result, steps such as quitting smoking (or never starting in the first place), maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and getting vaccinated against the pathogens that cause certain cancers can dramatically reduce your risk of certain cancers.
In the United States, many of the greatest reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality have been achieved through the implementation of effective public education and policy initiatives. For example, such initiatives drove down cigarette smoking rates among U.S. adults by greater than twofold from 1965 to 2017. But three out of 10 cancer deaths are still caused by cigarette smoking, and lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women.
It remains imperative that we identify strategies to enhance the dissemination and implementation of our current knowledge of cancer prevention.
And because the burden of preventable cancer risk factors is not shared equally—and that burden is higher among racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved people—it is imperative to implement effective evidence-based practices that reduce risky behaviors for everyone.
Seven Steps to Prevent Cancer
Nearly 1,736,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 606,800 will die. However, research shows that up to 50% of cancer cases and about 50% of cancer deaths are preventable with the knowledge we have today. Prevention and early detection are more important than ever — and are proven, effective strategies to lower health care costs.
You make choices every day that affect your health. Follow these Seven Steps to Prevent Cancer to reduce your risk.
Quit Smoking
The use of tobacco products has been linked to many types of cancer, including lung, colorectal, breast, throat, cervical, bladder, mouth, and esophageal. It’s never too late to quit. About 90 percent of all lung cancer is related to smoking. About 80% of lung cancer deaths in women and 90% of lung cancer deaths in men are related to cigarette smoking. Non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk for lung cancer and other respiratory conditions.
Protect your Skin from the Sun
Skin cancer is the most common and most preventable cancer in the United States. More than 96,400 people are diagnosed with melanoma annually. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation causes most skin cancer. Be sure to use adequate sun protection year-round. Never use indoor tanning beds.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Limit red meat and cut out processed meats. For healthy recipe ideas, visit Prevent Cancer Foundation’s website. It is also important to limit alcohol consumption because alcohol can increase your risk for liver, colorectal, and breast cancers. If you drink alcohol, have no more than two drinks a day if you are a man or one drink a day if you are a woman.
Maintain a Healthy Weight and be Physically Active
Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day can make a big difference in your general health and well-being. Inactivity and obesity have been linked to breast and colorectal cancer, and there is also some evidence of a link to lung and pancreatic cancer. Add exercise to your routine to reduce stress, increase energy, boost your immune system, control your weight and reduce your risk for cancer.
Practice Safe Sex and Avoid Risky Behaviors
Many strains of the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, are spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. High-risk strains of HPV have increasingly been found to cause many types of cancer. The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can also be spread from person to person through unprotected sex. It can cause long-term liver infections that can increase a person’s chance of developing liver cancer.
Get Your HPV and Hepatitis Vaccines
Certain viruses have been linked to cancer, but are preventable through vaccination. Talk to your health care professional about the age recommendations for HPV vaccines. In the U.S., approximately one-third of liver cancers are linked to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). An HBV vaccination is available and is recommended for babies, older children who were not vaccinated earlier, and adults who are at risk for HBV infection.
Know your Family Health History and Get Regular Cancer Screenings
Talk to your health care professional about cancer screening. Some tests can help detect cancer early when treatment is more likely to be successful, and some can also detect precancerous conditions before they become cancer. While screening has been proven to save lives, screening guidelines aren’t always “one size fits all.” Please check out the American Cancer Society’s cancer screening guidelines by age.
Challenge yourself to do at least one of these steps each month, and then add another the next month, and then another, and so forth until you are doing them all!
Sources:
https://www.preventcancer.org/event/national-cancer-prevention-month-2022/
https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/national-cancer-prevention-month/