7 Steps to Reduce Your Risk Cancer

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Cancer:
7 Steps to Reduce Your Risk


Cancer– the word strikes fear into the hearts of many.  A diagnosis of cancer is not always a death sentence.  Sometimes it can be treated with radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and other means.  However, far too often it progresses beyond its initial stage, and the disease is serious.  Currently, cancer is the number two killer in America, second only to heart disease.  Research shows that one in every two men and one in every three women in America will at some time be diagnosed with cancer.  Most people feel that all they can do is to hope they never get cancer.  People need to realize that an individual's degree of risk to develop cancer is largely a matter of personal lifestyle decisions.  


Early Detection by Screening
In order to get the upper hand on cancer, there are ways to detect cancer before having the symptoms.  The American Cancer Society recommends the following and encourages each individual to undergo certain tests:

1. Sigmoidoscopy, preferably flexible (every 3 to 5 years after age 50)
2. Digital rectal exam (yearly after age 40)
3. Pelvic exam and Pap smear (Women: younger than 18 if sexually active; after 18, annually for at least three consecutive years, then frequency determined in conjunction with personal physicians).
4. Blood PSA test (men: annually after age 50)
5. Self breast exam (women: monthly after age 20)
6. Breast physical exam (women: every three years from 20-40, then annually)
7. Mammogram (women: begin by age 40, then every other year, yearly after age 50).

A sigmoidoscopy exam is used for diagnosis when there is a recognized problem such as intestinal bleeding.  Screening for colon cancer is vital as it’s the second leading cause of cancer deaths among those who have never smoked. In addition, colon cancer is very preventable if it is diagnosed in a pre-cancerous state.  
A pap smear can perceive cancer of the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus or womb, at an early stage.  Cervical cancer is one of the more common cancers in women.  It is also a preventable cancer if it is detected early enough by routine screening.  


Cancer Prevention
There are basic strategies that will prevent most cancers from starting.  To prevent some cancers from starting, it is important to avoid factors that favor cancer development.  One of the Environmental features is alcohol. Alcohol and its breakdown products have cancer-causing potential and weaken the immune system.  Environmental features such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food choices we make, and our exercise habits are other features. Tobacco use is the number one cancer-causing Environmental features in the United States and in much of the world.  Cancer-protective lifestyle will vastly reduce our risk of getting cancer.  These preventive techniques are are not difficult. They can be implemented into our lives with no additional cost.  


Elements of a Cancer-Protective Lifestyle
Proper diet
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cereal grains
• Nuts
Maintain proper weight
Regular meals with no snacks
Regular aerobic exercise
Sunlight in moderation
Stress control

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