Health and wellness

February is National Cancer Prevention Month

Cancer is a growing problem that affects far too many people each year. Cancer doesn’t care if you’re young or old, male or female, or the stage you’ve reached in life. It doesn’t care if you’re married or single, or whether you’re rich or poor. This is why you should understand the basics of cancer, learn ways to reduce your risk, and know how to prevent cancer naturally. To help you reduce your risk, February is recognized as National Cancer Prevention Month.

The small choices you make today can make a big difference in your health tomorrow, especially when it comes to cancer. Make the most of National Cancer Prevention Month by picking up some healthy lifestyle habits—and dropping some harmful ones—to help prevent cancer from spreading into your life.

The spread of cancer

In America alone, nearly two million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year. But you don’t have to be one of them. Studies show that up to 50% of cancer cases and about half of all cancer deaths can actually be avoided by reducing your risk. While it’s only natural to hope for a future cure or simple cancer injection treatment, the best bet today is knowing how to prevent cancer naturally.

Countless kinds of cancer

Just as there’s no single cancer injection treatment or one cancer prevention vaccine, cancer is not just one disease, but a collection of diseases that are distinguished by the uncontrollable growth of cells. The affected cells start to multiply continuously, fail to die, and start to accumulate in the body’s organs and tissues, forming masses known as tumors. Cancers are named for where they begin and the kind of cell they’re made of, as well as whether they spread throughout the body. This means that a cancer that forms in the breast and spreads to the lungs is known as breast cancer because that’s where it began. In addition, there are some key terms used to describe general kinds of cancer, including:

• Carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer that forms in the tissues or skin that line the surfaces of organs.
• Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissues like the muscles, bones, and blood vessels.
• Lymphoma is a kind of cancer that begins in the lymph nodes and affects the immune system.
• Leukemia is a cancer of the blood.

Possible answers for cancer

Despite extensive funding and findings, there’s still no cure for cancer. No cancer prevention vaccine or cancer injection treatment alone can cure you of the disease for good. Unfortunately, there is no one-step, one-stop remedy that shrinks tumors in a snap or makes the disease just disappear. But, there are cancer prevention strategies that can help reduce your risk. Whether you’re worried about breast cancer prevention or lung cancer protection, adding certain foods to your diet and some healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your health. The following tips on how to prevent cancer naturally can help lower your risk and improve your quality of life:

1. Eat to beat cancer – The foods you eat can be a recipe for cancer prevention. Adding certain foods to your diet can help lower your risk of developing cancer. Fruits and vegetables are bursting with antioxidants and phytochemicals that may help prevent several kinds of cancer, such as stomach, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Whole grains can help reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, while studies have shown that ginger holds promise for breast cancer prevention. Garlic and onions may help with colon, liver, and breast cancer prevention, while green tea can be a comforting cup of skin, liver, pancreatic, and breast cancer prevention.
2. Don’t get burned by the sun – While the sun feels good on your skin, its cancer-causing UV rays can be a burning problem. That’s why you must protect your skin by limiting sun exposure from the late morning to When you’re outdoors, always wear sunscreen, along with clothing with UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses that filter UV rays.
3. Make an active effort – Staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight can tip the scale in your favor by reducing your risk for several kinds of cancer, such as breast, lung, prostate, and colon.
4. Stomp out smoking – If you’re a smoker, it’s time to toss those packs. The use of tobacco has been linked to lung, throat, mouth, colorectal, stomach, and breast cancers. And even just being exposed to secondhand smoke raises your risk for lung cancer.
5. Consider giving vaccines a shot – Several viruses have been linked to cancer, but your best protection is prevention by getting the recommended vaccinations.
6. Schedule regular cancer screenings – Early cancer detection is the key to later treatment success. Speak to your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor about routine cancer screenings because screenings can save your life.

During National Cancer Prevention Month, take your health into your own hands and be proactive about preventing cancer.

Sources:

• https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/patient-prevention-overview-pdq
• https://www.preventcancer.org/education/seven-steps-to-prevent-cancer/
• https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/progress/cpr21-contents/cpr21-understanding-how-cancer-develops/
• https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/national-cancer-prevention-month/

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