Risk Factors for cancer and its Prevention Tips

Cancer is the situation where cells of the body start growing uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. As trillions of cells collectively make the human body, so, any part of the body can get cancer. There are many risk factors for cancer and its prevention tips as well as suggested in this article.

We cannot blame a single factor or a specific reason that can cause cancer. In fact, it is almost impossible to find out the exact reason that may be the basic reason for cancer in a person while another person doesn’t carry it.

However, studies reveal that there are some factors that usually increase the risk of developing cancer. Factors like age, weight, exposure to carcinogens, and genetics are on the list of risk factors for cancer.

Contrary to this there are also some factors that are helpful in lowering the risk of cancer. These are named “protective risk factors”. Today we will discuss the risk factors for cancer and its prevention tips as well.

Risk Factors Linked with Cancer

Factors that may increase the risk of cancer include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as there are certain behaviors that may lead to cancer. Some cancer-increasing factors are uncontrollable. Family history and age are among such factors that people cannot control.  

The following list contains the factors that may increase the risk of cancer. If one can limit his exposure to “avoidable risk factors” the risk of developing cancer in him will be lower.

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Age
• Diet
• Chronic Inflammation
• Hormones
• Cancer-Causing Substances
• Sunlight
• Radiation
• Obesity
• Infectious agents
• Immunosuppression

Tips for Prevention of Cancer

If someone wants to avoid cancer, he has to make slight lifestyle changes. These healthy lifestyle changes can help him in avoiding cancer.

So, everyone who wants to avoid cancer must follow these cancer prevention tips.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is a proven reason for different dangerous and death-causing diseases. Where smoking is a root cause of different dangerous diseases, there, it may also be the cause of a variety of Cancers. Different kinds of cancers may occur due to smoking. 

Cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidney may occur due to a bad habit of smoking. Smoking is so serious threat even if you don’t smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke, there is a higher risk of carrying lung cancer.

Quitting smoking helps in preventing cancer. If you are a smoker and want to quit this habit, you need to talk to your doctor. The doctor will guide you about products and strategies for quitting smoking.

Include Healthy Foods in Your Diet Plan

Although, the inclusion of healthy foods in the diet plan isn’t a hundred percent guarantee of cancer prevention, however, it may reduce the risk of cancer.

Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet

Include maximum fruits, vegetables, and other foods from plant sources like whole grains and beans.

Avoid high-calorie foods

Choose the foods that are lower in calories and minimize high-calorie foods like refined sugars and fat from animal sources.

Avoid alcohol

Too much alcohol may lead to cancers of the breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver. So, if you stop or limit the use of alcohol, the chances of developing cancer may also reduce.

Avoid processed meats

The research reveals that eating a large amount of processed meat increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Always choose healthy fats like olive oil instead of butter and prefer fish over red meat.

Avoid Obesity and be Active Physically

Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk of developing various types of cancer like cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney.

A physical activity where helps in maintaining a healthy weight, there it also lowers the risk of developing breast and colon cancer.

Physical activity of 25~30 minutes daily can prevent the risk of cancer as well as many other diseases.

Avoid Direct Rays of The Sun

Skin cancer is mostly developed due to the sun. However, one can prevent this by following tips.

Stay out of the sun during midday. The sun’s rays are very strong during midday (10 a.m. to 04 p.m.). So, you need to stay out of the sun during midday.

Seek the shade. When you’re not at home or you are in the market or outside, seek a shaded place. The use of umbrellas and sunglasses may also help the cause.

Cover maximum of your skin. Always prefer loose-fitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Choose the colors that reflect more ultraviolet radiation.

Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases

Certain viral infections may lead to diseases that have a higher risk of developing cancer. So, vaccination against these infectious diseases may prevent the risk of developing cancer. Ask your doctor regarding the vaccination for the following diseases.  

Vaccination for hepatitis B. Liver cancer may be caused due to hepatitis B. So, the vaccination for hepatitis B can reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a virus that is transmitted sexually. Human papillomavirus can result in cervical and other genital cancers. HPV can also develop squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. Usually, teens between the ages of 11 to 12 are recommended for HPV vaccination.

Avoid Certain Risky Behaviors

If someone avoids following risky behaviors, surely the risk of carrying cancer will be reduced.

Have sex with your spouse

Always have sex with your spouse. There is a high risk of being infected from sexually transmitted infections like HIV or HPV when you have sex other than with your spouse. 

HIV or AIDS increases the risk of carrying anus cancer. HPV can lead to cervical cancer and also increases the risk of developing anus, penis, throat, vulva, and vagina cancer.

Always use a new needle

Using the already used needle can lead to HIV, Hepatitis B, and C. These infectious diseases increase the risk of liver cancer.

Schedule Regular Health Checkups

Schedule regular health checkups with your doctor or health consultant. The doctor or health consultant may advise different screenings for various types of cancers. Cancers like skin, colon, cervix, and breast can be diagnosed early through these self-exams and screenings.

However, it is the doctor who can guide the best cancer screening schedule for you. Although there are many risk factors for cancer, it has many prevention tips. This is the good news that I wanted to give you through this article.