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Diet, exercise and getting recommended screenings can lessen your risk of cancer.
According to the National Institutes of Health, certain lifestyle choices can lessen the chances an individual has of developing cancer. However, even though most Americans know that choices such as quitting smoking, protecting skin from sun damage, eating a healthy diet, exercising more and getting the recommended screenings reduce the risk of cancer, following these recommendations can often be difficult. Although targeted treatments for cancer have improved survival rates, and there are more breakthroughs on the horizon, the best option for most of us is still prevention.
SKIN CANCER AFFECTS 1 IN 5 AMERICANS
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer, called basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, are highly curable. Melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is much more dangerous.
By now, most people know that a sunscreen should be used when they are going to be outdoors, even for a short period of time. However, not all sunscreens are created equally. For maximum protection, oncologists recommend a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Other recommendations include avoiding tanning beds or sunlamps and examining your skin, head to toe, every month for any changes. You should also have a dermatologist, or your primary care physician examine your skin annually.
SMOKING AND CANCER
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. It’s estimated that in the United States, smoking causes about 90% of lung cancers; smokers are 15-20% more likely to get lung cancer than non-smokers. Tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increase the risk for lung cancer, as well as throat and mouth cancers. Even smokeless tobacco has been proven to increase the risk of oral cancer, throat cancer, stomach and pancreatic cancer.
ANOTHER REASON TO STOP SMOKING – BLADDER CANCER
Bladder cancer is the 5th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. This year, it is estimated nearly 15,000 people will die from the disease. But here’s a real shocker; people who smoke arefour times as prone to the malignancy as nonsmokers – especially women. About half of all bladder cancer cases in women age 50 and older are now traceable to smoking. In addition, current smokers are four times as likely to develop bladder cancer as people who have never smoked.
THE ROLE OF DIET IN PREVENTING CANCER
Although no particular food or diet product can prevent cancer, there is growing evidence that diet can play a significant role in some types of cancer. For example, studies have found a higher incidence of prostate cancer in men whose diets are high in fats, particularly animal fats, and low in vegetables. Likewise, 30-40% of certain types of breast cancer have been linked to what we eat, especially if our diet is a contributing factor to obesity. A diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, and low in animal fat, processed foods and sugar, are generally considered healthier and can boost your immune system to help fight diseases such as cancer.
REDUCE YOUR CANCER RISK WITH HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Each year, over half a million Americans die of cancer; the startling news is that about one-third to one-half of these deaths are linked to lifestyle choices and, potentially, could have been prevented. Start reducing your risk of cancer by making these choices in your life:
• Get to and stay at a healthy weight throughout life.
• Be physically active on a regular basis.
• Make healthy food choices with a focus on plant-based foods.
• Stop smoking – or better yet, never start.
• Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Get recommended screenings such as colonoscopies, PAP smears and mammograms.
Let your doctor know if there is a family history of cancer.
World-Class Cancer Treatment Close to Home
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has put together a network of expert, board-certified physicians who bring world-class cancer treatments to local communities, both large and small, across the state. With nearly 100 locations, FCS is the largest independent oncology/hema- tology group in the United States.
That status puts the practice on the leading edge of clinical trial research and gives FCS physicians access to the newest, most innovative treatments.
Florida Cancer Specialists treats patients with all types of cancer, and offers a number of services, such as an in-house specialty pharmacy, an in-house pathology lab, and financial counselors at every location, all that deliver the most advanced and personalized care in your local community.
For more information, visit FLCancer.com
