Up to 70% of the causes of cancer are related to your lifestyle and the things you put into your body. Despite today’s medical breakthroughs, there are still no cures for some types of cancer, which leads us to the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Here are seven ways to prevent cancer:
Make a Healthy Selection of Meals and Snacks
- Eat organic foods, like fruits and vegetables, more often.
- Limit fat intake by reducing consumption of food from animal sources.
- Drink alcohol in moderation and be aware that alcohol abuse can be lethal.
Avoid Tobacco to Prevent Cancers
- Smoking is the cause of cancers in the lung, bladder, kidney, and cervix.
- Tobacco chewing causes oral cavity cancer and pancreatic cancer.
- Second-hand smoke is twice as lethal as the risk smoking causes a smoker.
Protect Yourself from the Sun to Avoid Skin Cancer
- Avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm because this is when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Use generous amounts of sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
- Choose dark colored clothing to avoid the reflection of ultraviolet radiation.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps because they are just as bad as the sun’s strongest rays.
- Stay in shaded areas as much as possible or wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Stay Physically Active and Maintain a Healthy Weight
- A healthy weight minimizes the risk of breast, lung, prostate, kidney, and colon cancer.
- Staying physically active is a general way to prevent all kinds of diseases, even cancer.
Follow the Recommended Immunization Schedule
- Hepatitis B immunization decreases the risk of liver cancer.
- This immunization is also recommended for sexually active people with multiple partners.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunization prevents genital and cervical cancers.
- This immunization also prevents cancers of the head and neck.
Avoid Risky and Unprotected Behaviors
- Sharing of needles in taking drugs and tattooing can transfer cancer cells.
- This practice can also spread diseases like HPV, Hepatitis B and C, liver cancer or AIDS.
- Practice safe sex and limit the number of your sexual partners;this will help you avoid exchange of unhealthy bodily fluids
Have your Regular Medical Exam
- Regular visits to your doctor can help you avoid cancer development in the first place
Early detection of cancer gives you a better chance of treating the ailment successfully