While some types of cancer are more dangerous than others, one of the main causes of death among people who suffer from cancer is not detecting it early enough. Many of the causes of death are also preventable, which include everything from physical inactivity to smoking. Taking steps to reduce these risk factors may allow you to lower your risk of developing cancer.
Factors That Could Increase Your Risk for Cancer
The factors that can or do increase a person’s risk of cancer include:
- Infections
- Radiation
- Tobacco use and cigarette smoking
- Immunosuppressive medicines
- Alcohol
- A poor diet
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Certain environmental risk factors
Steps You Can Take to Lower Your Risk of Cancer
There are many steps you can take to reduce your overall risk of cancer. Since there are numerous risk factors associated with cancer, addressing these risk factors is a great first step. For one, it’s highly recommended that you maintain an active lifestyle. Consider performing around 30 minutes of easy to moderate physical activity every day.
You should avoid smoking and any other forms of tobacco products. All tobacco products contain chemicals that are known to damage a person’s DNA and cause cancer. Your doctor should be able to tell you strategies and products that can assist you in stopping smoking.
Another step you can take is to protect yourself from damaging ultraviolet rays. It’s typically recommended to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make sure that any exposed skin is covered with sunscreen. You should also avoid sun lamps and tanning beds.
Another option at your disposal is to get immunized. Some viruses are known to cause cancer, which means that their vaccines can lower your risk for these cancers. For example, the HPV vaccine is able to substantially reduce the risk of tongue, genital, cervical, and throat cancers.
Get screened on a regular basis as well. Obtaining regular screenings makes it easier for cancers to be detected early, which significantly increases the likelihood that treatment is successful.
Reducing your risk of cancer might only require making small alterations to your lifestyle. For more cancer prevention tips, talk to your primary care provider or schedule an appointment at WFMC Health today.
