Cancer – one of the most dreaded diseases in modern science. Despite tremendous progress that medical science has achieved till date, researchers are yet to find out a medicine for the disease. If diagnosed in early stage, some cancers are completely curable but once it metastasizes (spread to the distant organs), nothing works to save the patient’s life. Though scientists are applying gene editing and immunotherapy to eliminate cancer, these experiments are still in nascent stages.

We keep saying that precaution is better than cure. When it comes to caner, nothing sounds truer than this. Just like heart diseases, the risk of developing cancer can be reduced to a great extent by making some effective changes in our lifestyle. Yes, it is possible to prevent cancer and here are some tips on how you can do it:

Avoid Tobacco Use

Tobacco consumption increases the chance of developing some types of cancer such as cancer in larynx, throat, pancreas, cervix, bladder, lung, mouth and even kidney. There are strong evidences that tobacco increases the chance of having cancer in pancreas and oral cavity by manifolds.

If you use tobacco, giving it up is good for cancer prevention. If you find it difficult to stop tobacco use, consult your doctor who can suggest strategies for a way out.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity has been linked to different forms of cancer. According to cancer researchers and oncologists, excess peripheral fat (belly fat) causes cancer in prostate, breast, colon, lung and kidney. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can reduce the risk of developing cancer at bay.

Stay Physically Active

Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight and also lowers the chances of colon and breast cancer. Make sure to do moderate aerobic activity for 150 minutes/week or vigorous aerobic activity for 75 minutes/week. A combination of moderate and vigorous exercises will help you stay fit. Include 30-minute physical activity into your daily routine.

Take a Healthy Diet

Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet chart. Oxidants in fruits and vegetables are cancer preventive. Avoid calorie-rich foods such as animal fat and refined sugars as these will add to your weight. Even a couple of years ago, it was believed that taking alcohol in moderation was safe for one’s health. However, recent researches have shown that using alcohol even in moderation increases the chance of certain types of cancer and the degree of risk is directly related to the amount of one’s alcohol intake.

It is better to say ‘NO’ to processed meat. But if that is not possible, limit its intake as much as possible. According a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), taking large amounts of processed meat increases the chance of certain kinds of cancer.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Skin cancer is one of the commonest types of cancer. Fortunately, you can prevent it by following some simple tips.

Avoid going out in the midday sun. If you have to go out, always apply sunscreen lotion on the exposed areas of your body. Make sure to use an umbrella as well. If possible, stay in the shaded areas when you are working outdoors. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and sunglass will also give you some protection against the sun.

You will be disheartened to know that sunlamps and tanning beds are as damages as sunlight.

Get Vaccinated

A few cancer protection vaccines are available these days. These vaccines provide strong protection against some kinds of cancer. Talk to your physician about vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B.

Wrapping Up!

In addition to the above-stated tips, you should also maintain a safe sex life to avoid having sexually transmitted infections. Regular screening and health check-up are very important. It will help diagnose cancer at a very early stage and some cancers are curable if diagnosed earlier.