Cancer-help protect yourself
Posted on 17 November, 2009 | No Comments
Although there are no proven ways to prevent cancer, there are steps you can take to decrease your risk.
Stop smoking: According to cancer researches 80% of lung cancer cases are smoking related. If you stop smoking you can greatly cut the risk of developing cancer. The earlier you stop smoking, the greater the impact, but it is never too late to quit. The research shows that if you stop smoking at the age of 30 you can live nearly as long as a non-smoker and if you stop smoking at 50, you can still undo half the damages to your health.
Be Sun Smart in preventing skin cancer: If you follow Cancer Research’s Sun Smart plan, you can protect yourself from skin cancer. Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, but make sure you never burn. You can cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses. You may use factor 15+ sunscreen.
Obesity: If you maintain a healthy weight, you can reduce the risk of getting cancer. When you are overweight it puts pressure on your body, which means your body cannot work well. So make small changes to your diet and lifestyle which will make a huge difference to your health. For advice on losing weight, see website in useful links.
Alcohol: Alcohol can cause breast cancer and is linked with cancer of the liver, mouth, food- pipe (oesophagus) and lung, according to cancer researches. Drinking four or more units of alcohol a day can increase your risk of mouth cancer. If you are a heavy drinker it could increase your risk even more. The recommended limits are two units a day for women, and three units a day for men. Try to have alcohol-free days, and when you do drink, sip your drinks slowly and alternate them with soft drinks.
Eating Healthy: Improve your diet and lower your risk of developing cancer by following these simple steps:
- Eat more fibre, ie. as wholegrain bread or whole meal pasta.
- Eat as much as fruit and vegetables a day.
- Eat less red and processed meat.
- Reduce your saturated fat intake.
Exercise:
If you exercise 30 minutes a day, five times a week or try anything you can do to get your body moving is good for your overall health. You can also halve your chances of getting bowel cancer. You can take stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop earlier or can dance to your favourite song.