Cancer Prevention

No matter who we are, our risk of getting cancer increases as we grow older. Those of us at high risk for certain cancers (such as breast or colon) need to be especially vigilant with periodic screenings. The good news is that by taking care of ourselves we can reduce our risk of cancer and other life-threatening health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

What can you do to prevent cancer?

• Eat healthy. Eat your fruits and veggies (five a day), choose whole grain cereals and breads and limit fats, sugars and red or overcooked meats. Eating well can help prevent obesity, which can place you at risk for certain cancers.
• Exercise.A 2002 review of observational studies has shown that even moderate physical activity such as walking briskly for three to four hours a week can lower a person’s risk of colon cancer. For postmenopausal women of normal weight, walking 30 minutes a day was associated with lower breast cancer risk.
• Control your weight.Obesity may increase your risk of certain cancers, including esophageal, stomach, breast, kidney, colon, and uterine. According to the National Cancer Institute, obesity and physical inactivity may account for 25 to 30 percent of several major cancers—colon, breast (postmenopausal), endometrial, kidney, and cancer of the esophagus.
• Give up tobacco.Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancers, as well as many cases of bladder, kidney, pancreatic, cervical, esophageal and oral cancers.
• Go for regular screenings.Talk with your primary care physician about your risk factors for cancer and what screening tests or methods are appropriate for you. Then follow up.
• Be sun smart.Protect yourself from harmful rays by using sunscreen, hats, and clothing. Monitor your freckles and moles and report and changes promptly to your doctor.
• Talk to your pediatrician about vaccination.Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a group of more than 100 viruses, about 30 of which can be transmitted sexually. Several varieties cause genital warts, others cause several types of cancer, including cervical cancer and cancer of the penis. About six million new cases of HPV are diagnosed each year, but many people contract HPV and never know it. The FDA has approved a vaccine to protect against the most vicious cancer-and wart-causing strains of HPV. The vaccine is given as three shots over a six-month period. The Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices recommends that girls aged 11 and 12 receive the vaccine.
• If you’re at high risk... There are special considerations for people who know they are genetically at risk for certain cancers. For instance, women with the BrCA2 gene may want to talk with their doctors about taking the drugs raloxifene or tamoxifen, or early mastectomy to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Other types of chemoprevention are being studied, including the use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Click here to view cancer prevention web links.