Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

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Imagine reducing the risk of getting cancer!
There are an estimated 1,638,910 newcases of the dreadful disease diagnosed in 2012 in theUnited States, not including nonmelanoma skin cancers.Cancer is not just one disease but isa term that represents more than 100 diseases with different causes. The basicunit of life is cells, and cancer always begins in cells. When the normalprocess of cell growth and division is altered, these abnormal cells dividewithout control and can form tumors and invade nearby tissue. It is afrightening diagnosis to even think about for most people.
Hundreds of studies link lifestyle and“daily habits” to the risk of developing cancer, and researchers at a recentmeeting of the Union for International Cancer Control World Cancer Congress2012  reportedthat more than 50 percent of cancer could be prevented if people simplyimplemented what is already known about cancer prevention.
Some of these are lifestyle changesand some are interventions and discoveries that have been proven to preventcertain cancers. The No. 1 lifestyle factor for causingcancer is smoking. Tobacco use causes cancer of the lung, esophagus, larynx,mouth, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach and cervix. Twenty-two percent ofcancer deaths per year are caused by tobacco use, so stopping smoking bringsthe biggest benefit to both men and women. And the benefit starts as soon asyou stop.Other proven cancer preventions are:
*Limiting fats in the diet and keepingbody mass index in a normal range. BMI is calculated using your height andweight.  A BMI between 18.5-24.9 isconsidered normal.  Overweight is25-29.9 and over 30 is obesity.  This is another way ofsaying don’t get fat. Obesity increases the risk of prostate, liver,gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, ovary and cervical cancer. High fat diets arelinked to colon, lung and postmenopausal breast cancer.
*Implementing widespread infant andchildhood immunization programs targeting two viruses: Human papillomavirus(HPV) and Hepatitis B.  Hepatitis Cdoes not yet have a vaccine but early detection and treatment can prevent livercancer. HPV causes cervical cancer and chronic hepatitis can lead to livercancer.
*Taking tamoxifen and raloxifene,which in high breast cancer risk postmenopausal women,  reduced the risk for invasive breastcancer by 50 percent.  Additionally weight loss after menopause reducedbreast cancer risk
*Daily intake of a low-dose aspirin which reducedmortality from colon cancer by 40 percent. Aspirin also limits spread of cancerthrough its action on platelets. Screening for colorectal cancer also reducedmortality because small pre-cancer polyps can be removed before they become aproblem.
*Minimizing occupational exposure toasbestos, formaldehyde, arsenic and diesel and certain environmental chemicalslike BPA that is found in reusable plastic food containers.
*Limiting alcohol binging orover-drinking. Heavy drinking is responsible for 4.6 percent of cancer cases inmen and is the sixth-biggest risk for women.  More than three drinks a day is considered dangerousdrinking . And  yes, that includesbeer and wine.
*Avoiding excessive sun exposure andtanning salons.  You only need10-20 minutes of partial sun exposure during the high sun 10-2 time period toget enough Vitamin D a day.  So theaverage person just walking around outside  with sunscreen will get enough sun without even trying.  If you have had a skin cancer, there are no safe levels after that.  Everyone should protect with sunscreen and clothing during the high risk time.

None of these lifestyle changes orinterventions will guarantee a cancer-free life if done independently of the others or erratically. But there is ample evidence that healthy livingwith a diet high in fruits, vegetables and fiber, no smoking, exercise andlimited alcohol really does lower the risk of cancer and heart disease in allpeople. Other interventions like aspirin, immunizations, colorectal screeningand hormone blockers are beneficial after a discussion with your doctor, takinginto account your own risk factors.
The good news is that it’s not “all inthe genes.” Cancer risk can be lowered.
(This article was first published in The San Francisco Chronicle)