By Cristina Evans, ISU Intern at the Community Cancer Center
Cancer is still thought of as an inevitable, terminal, and agonizing disease.
However, according to the researchers of Nature magazine, 90 percent of cancer cases are caused by lifestyle factors. The World Health
One of the most important ways to prevent cancer is to avoid smoking. Smoking tobacco can cause cancer of the lung and throat. In 2014, there were 224,210 new cases of lung cancer and 159,260 deaths associated with lung cancer. Even smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco, can cause esophageal and pancreatic cancer.
Consuming a healthy diet is another lifestyle factor that can affect an individual’s risk of cancer. Eating a well-balanced, plant-based diet will help lower the risk of developing cancer. Fiber is a natural substance that can be found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (plant-based foods) and is an important component of a cancer-prevention diet. It plays a key role in keeping the digestive system clean by helping the body remove waste, which often contains cancer-causing agents.
When looking at cancer prevention, types of food to avoid are red and processed meats. Processed meats contain the highest cancer risk when compared to all meats. This is due to the various preservatives used during processing. Industrially-raised meats are another concern. They contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) which have been found to directly cause certain types of cancers.
Adding regular physical activity to a healthy diet will significantly reduce a person’s cancer risk. Evidence supports a strong correlation between individuals who are overweight or obese and certain cancers, such as colorectal and kidney.
Alcohol is another significant risk factor for many types of cancers. Alcohol consumption can directly increase one’s risk of oral and breast cancer. The consumption of alcohol impairs the body’s ability to break down and absorb certain nutrients, such as vitamin B1, B12, and zinc, which help protect the body against cancer. Alcohol also increases a person’s blood levels of estrogen, a sex hormone directly linked with the risk of breast cancer in women.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and is also one of the most preventable. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, specifically solar radiation from the sun, causes early aging of the skin and potential skin cancers.
Infectious agents, such as the Human Papilloma Virus and Hepatitis B virus, can cause cancer. An individual can reduce this cancer risk through the use of preventative vaccines for HPV and by avoiding risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex or the sharing of needles.
Certain environmental pollutants in the air, water, and soil are known to be cancer-causing and contribute to 1–4 percent of all cancer cases. Radon is an odorless gas that can be found in homes. Exposure to high levels has been linked with an increased risk of lung cancer. Metal ions, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel, are environmental and occupational carcinogens that increase a person’s risk of developing prostate and pancreatic cancer. Pesticides are a third common carcinogen class that can lead to an increased risk of pancreatic and renal cancer.
Although a person does not have the ability to change their genetics, they do have the choice to change their lifestyle and be mindful of the environment they live in. Eating a plant-based diet, participating in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and wearing sunscreen are a few ways a person can help protect themselves against cancer.
Please visit www.aicr.org/can-prevent for more information and helpful tools.
The Community Cancer Center offers a variety of supportive and educational groups and programs, free of charge, to help patients and families cope with cancer and its effects. For more information, go to their website at www.cancercenter.org.