According to American Cancer Society (ACS), the main reasons for cancer death in 2009 are due to smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition. If we are aware of our health, it is easy to prevent cancer. Here are some tips that may reduce the risk of cancer. 1. Avoid tobacco consumption: Smoking is the main reason for lung cancer. Smoking is responsible for almost 9 out of 10 lung cancer death. The top 5 or 6 types of cancers in men are all tobacco related cancers which include lung cancer, esophagus cancer, laryngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, stomach cancer etc. Using tobacco is one of the major reasons for cervical as well as ovarian cancer for woman. Refraining from tobacco use provides other health benefits besides lowering cancer risk. 2. Limit alcohol intake: Alcohol is associated with an increased risk of number of cancers. Over consumption of alcohol are the main causes of mouth, larynx, pharynx, liver and esophagus cancers. It also increases the risk for colon as well as rectal cancer. Breast cancer in women is also associated with alcohol intake. So try to limit your daily intake of alcohol to two drinks for men and one drink for women. 3. Maintain Weight:Obesity may be linked to cancers of the breast, colon, thyroid, uterus, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder. Be aware that more people in the world are becoming obese. Aim to be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day, and aim to be reducing caloric intake in a systematic manner. Have a strict regimen of diet and exercise. Do check your BMI. 4. Eat a low fat diet: Excess body fat causes cancer. Foods high in saturated fat are one of the reasons for endometrial, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, esophagus, breast and ovarian cancers. Low fat diet may reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women. Women with excess fat around the waist have a 63 per cent greater risk of dying from cancer. Try to limit your total fat intake to less than 30 percent of daily calories. Avoid saturated fats, and try to consume Omega-3 fats. 5. Regular Exercise: Lack of physical activity is the cause of major lifestyle diseases. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends exercise 30 minutes a day; 5 days a week for preventing cancer. Greater participation in physical activity can reduce the risk of cancers such as colon and breast. Regular exercise in your teen years can protect you from breast cancer as an adult. Physical activity can lower estrogen, considered a risk factor for breast cancer. 6. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have several protective mechanisms for our body. A diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains will reduce the risk of many types of cancer. Aim to eat at least one-third of your food raw. Balance your intake of red, green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables to cover the full range of photochemical. Besides being high in fiber, fruits and vegetables are natural sources of antioxidants that protect cells from potential damage caused by carcinogens. 7. Avoid red meats and processed meats: Avoid consumption of red meats including beef, pork and lamb and avoid processed meats. Recent studies show that eating cooked red meat may increase the risk of getting cancer because of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines are created during the cooking process. Processed meats like bacon, sausage, ham and salami are the reason for pancreatic and colorectal cancers, because they are usually high in fat and very salty. 8. Increase your fiber intake: Intake of at least 40 grams of fiber per day will protect you from colon cancer. Dietary fiber can play a role in preventing breast cancer through no estrogen pathways among postmenopausal women. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. This will alkalize your body and enable cells to function at their best. 9. Eliminate processed, sugary and salty food: Eliminate processed foods that deposit toxins into our body. Avoid sugary snacks and drinks. … [Read more...]
10 tips to reduce Cancer risk
American Cancer Society is recommending following health guidelines to reduce Cancer risk by 50%. By making simple changes to your lifestyle and eating habits, you can reduce risk for cancers like Lung, breast and colon etc by more than 30-50%. 10 health tips to reduce cancer risk? 1. Stay away from smoking and chewing of tobacco products to reduce risk of lung cancer, Mouth, colon cancer and urinary bladder cancer incidence. 2. Regular screening for major cancers. We can prevent cancers of breast, prostate, colon, skin and cervix by screening. 3. Reduce alcohol consumption to prevent cancers of breast, colon, pancreas, oesophagus and head-neck. 4. Use sunscreen to prevent skin cancer or reduce incidence. 5. Regular exercise for 3-4 hours per week will reduce cancer incidence by 30-50%. 6. Control your weight by making proper diet changes and with regular exercise to prevent cancers of colon, breast, pancreas, kidney, liver and endometrium. Junk foods are major culprits for rise in obesity incidence. 7. Women should not post-menopausal hormonal therapy to reduce risk for cancers of breast, ovary and endometrial cancers. 8. Avoid exposure to carcinogens and radiation. 9. Vegetarians have low risk of getting cancer. Eat foods and green leafy vegetables and stay away from high calorie foods like soft drinks. 10. One should take proper medication to reduce cancer risk by consulting oncologist. More than 30% cancer deaths are preventable. We can reduce cancer occurrence by more than 30% if we follow above measures. Please share your opinion. … [Read more...]
Colon Cancer screening: New guidelines
American Cancer Society recommended two new screening tests for Colon cancer i.e. Virtual Colonoscopy (CTC) and Simple stool examination along with existing tests like Sigmoidoscopy. These new guidelines were released after extensive research and discussions among various medical departments like Oncology, Radiology and Gastroenterology. These new tests are mainly to detect precancerous lesions like polyps. Doctors’ recommendations for screening: These tests are useful for detection of polyps and cancer. 1. Colonoscopy - every 10 years. 2. Sigmoidoscopy - every 5 years. 3. Double-contrast barium enema or virtual colonoscopy - every five years. 4. Faecal occult blood test – every year. 5. Stool DNA testing. 6. Faecal immunochemical test – every year. Who are at risk? 1. Those who have a family history of colon cancer.2. Above 50 years. Colon cancer statistics: Colon cancer kills around 50,000 Americans per year and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in United States. Around 0.15 million colon cancer cases are detected a year. Click here to know more about these Colon Cancer guidelines. … [Read more...]
Exercise reduces cancer risk
Regular brisk walking can not only decrease heart disease and diabetes risk, but also cancer risk. Exercise also prevents infection and cold. Moderate exercise like brisk walking for 45 minutes a day, five times a week, will prevent breast cancer in post menopausal women. According to the researchers, exercise enhances the immune system and decreases the risk of breast and prostate cancers. This research study was published in the journal of the “Archives of Internal Medicine”. Vigorous exercise reduces prostate cancer diagnosis risk by 67% and lowers prostate cancer deaths by 74%. Exercise reduces colon cancer risk by 35%. Patients should consult doctor before starting exercise regimen. Obesity increases prostate cancer death risk: Obesity increases death risk from prostate cancer, according to a research study. This research report was published in the journal “Cancer”, a publication of American Cancer Society (ACS). Obese men twice likely die from advanced prostate cancer than normal patients. Overweight increases death risk by 52% and obesity raises this risk by 64%. Body Mass Index (BMI) in between 18-25 is considered normal. BMI in between 25-30 is considered as overweight while BMI>30 is Obese. According to researchers, prostate cancer treatments are less effective in obese men. Obese men generally suffer from other chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension which further raises death risk. … [Read more...]
New Research results on Breast Cancer
1. New molecules to fight against Breast Cancer. Hamilton college research scientists discovered new molecules that will be effective in the fight against Breast Cancer. They found them using advanced computational Tomography techniques. Albany Medical professional synthesized those molecules. This research on Breast Cancer will be published in the May 16 issue of Journal of American Chemical Society. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and Tamoxifen is the preferred drug for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treatment. According to American Cancer Society estimates, 0.18 Million people will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in America. 2. Breast cancer comprises 60% of alcohol-attributable cancers among women. Drinking Alcohol (even in moderate amounts) is the major cause for Breast Cancer in Women. 3. According to the research by Italy Oncologists, Women at high risk for breast cancer who have undergone a hysterectomy appear to benefit from taking Tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer. 4. Decrease in Breast Cancer rates started even before the wide spread use of Hormone Replacement Therapy. … [Read more...]
MRI-High risk Breast Cancer cases
American Cancer society issued new guidelines to the women who are at risk of developing Breast Cancer. 1.4 million US women (Breast cancer risk cases) should get annual MRI as well as mammograms as per new guidelines. Women who have cancer diagnosed in one breast should get an MRI in the other breast. Reason: MRI scans revealed cancers in the opposite breast that were missed by ordinary Mammograms in 3% of cancer survivors. MRI should be done for the following women along with Mammogram: 1. symptomless women age 30 and older who have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes 2. Those who were treated for Hodgkin's disease 3. Those with a strong family history of the disease, such as women with two or more close relatives who had breast or ovarian cancer or who have a close relative who developed breast cancer before age 50. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): It makes more detailed images with a magnet and radio waves but without radiation. MRI detects cancer better than mammogram in women with dense, non-fatty breasts. MRIs are better at showing increased or abnormal blood flow in the breast, a sign of early cancers not visible on a mammogram But MRI screening is not being recommended for most women. One reason is the test's error rate, which can lead to unnecessary biopsies. Another is the high cost. While a mammogram costs roughly $100 to $150, an MRI can cost $2,000 or more at some medical centres. Mammography: Mammography is the usual screening test used by doctors for detecting breast masses or tumours. Mammograms spot calcium deposits in the breast better than MRIs do. Breast MRIs should be done at places that do biopsies as well. Biopsy is the confirmatory test. Only downside is MRI gives more false positive results than Mammogram that will result in more economical and psychological burden on the patient and her family. Conclusion: Women at high risk of developing Breast cancer should have done their MRI along with Mammogram. … [Read more...]
