What Can You Do?

You can’t choose your relatives or your family history of cancer, but there are steps you can do to help reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Each year more than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer and about 550,000 people die of cancer. Nearly one-third of cancer deaths might have been prevented by making lifestyle changes.

Here are some of the things you can do to reduce your cancer risk:

1. Don’t use tobacco products. While you may hear more about the dangers of cigarette smoking and cancer, chewing tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco aren’t safe either. Cigarette smoking is the cause of about 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Compared with nonsmokers, cigar smokers have higher rates of lung cancer and are 4 to 10 times more likely to die of cancers of the larynx, esophagus and mouth. Chewing tobacco increases your risk of developing cancers in the mouth, cheek and gums.
   
   So if you smoke, it’s time to quit. And if you don’t smoke, don’t start.
   
2. Eat a variety of healthy foods. The American Cancer Society recommends increasing your consumption of fruit and vegetables, especially those with lots of color. Vegetables and fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and other substances that may reduce your cancer risk.
   
   High fat diets, especially those high in saturated fats, may increase your risk of certain cancers such as colon, prostate, rectum and uterus.
   
   
3. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing cancers of the breast, colon, endometrium and kidney. You can achieve health benefits by first stopping any further weight gain and then by beginning to lose moderate amounts of weight over time.
   
   
4. Add physical activity. Physical activity may help reduce your risk of cancer by helping control weight and influencing hormones. Adults should be moderately active for 30 minutes five or more days a week. More activity may be even better for reducing your risk of breast and colon cancer. Children should be moderately active 60 minutes, five days or more a week.
   
   
5. Watch your sun exposure. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. and one of the most preventable. Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that aren’t usually covered such as the face, hands, forearms and ears. Practice sun smarts like staying out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., wearing a sun screen with a SPF factor of at least 15 and covering exposed areas with hats and woven fabrics that block the rays.

To learn more about cancer prevention, call 1-888-836-3848 for a free booklet, “Preventing Cancer.”

The Seven Warning Signs of Cancer

Change in bowel or bladder habits

A sore that doesn't heal

Unusual bleeding or discharge

Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere

Indigestion or difficulty swallowing

Obvious change in wart or mole

Nagging cough or hoarseness