Marking The National Cancer Prevention Month- H&B Once Again Joins The Cause

Cancer Is Very Often A Preventable Disease!

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, assigned to raising cancer awareness and the joint effort to lower the cancer risk. 

Less than half of Americans are aware that drinking alcohol, eating diets high in red meat and low in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber, and neglecting physical activity all have a direct link to cancer growth, according to the most recent National Cancer Risk and Awareness Survey.

Known Factors That Can Increase The Risk Of Cancer

There are some well-known risk-increasing factors. It’s always good to remind ourselves about them, and do our best to avoid them in our everyday life. 

• Cigarette smoking and tobacco use in general

• Various infections

• Radiation

• Lack of physical activity

• Obesity

• Environmental risk factors

• Immunosuppressive medicines

• Bad diet

• Alcohol consumption

Most New Cancer Cases Were Preventable

There are approximately 1.7 million new cases of cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. Many, if not most, of these cases, were probably preventable. To kick off National Cancer Prevention Month, H&B prompts you to pick up cancer-preventative habits. Remember, it’s never too late to start living a healthier life.

According to a study conducted by the American Cancer Society, at least 42% of newly diagnosed cancers in the US are potentially avoidable. This includes 19% of all cancers that are caused by smoking and 18% caused by a combination of excess body weight, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 70 percent of Americans aged 20 and older have overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity increases the risk of 12 types of cancer and the CDC notes that adults who have excess weight are also at higher risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic.

What Can Be Done To Lessen The Risk Of Cancer

• Look out for carcinogens.
  Carcinogen is the name given to any substance that may cause cancer. Things like diesel exhaust, bitumen fumes, gasoline, and even wood dust are considered carcinogens. Each carcinogen differs considerably in its capacity to cause cancer. Sunlight, for example, is a great source of Vitamin D; but, prolonged exposure outdoors with no protection can be very dangerous.

• Maintain a healthy weight.
  Exercise. Combining a healthy diet with regular exercise reduces the likelihood of obesity. This includes cancers of the breast, kidney, head, and neck, esophagus, pancreas, prostate, gallbladder, and thyroid. Having a balanced diet and incorporating exercise is the best and safest way to lessen one’s risk of cancer.

• Screen on schedule.
  Though those for HPV and Hepatitis B are the only vaccinations available, routine screening can offer a similar safety measure. Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B,  recommends routine screenings for breast, colorectal and cervical cancers. It is also recommended that people with a history of heavy smoking undergo lung cancer screenings. Regular screenings provide for an early diagnosis and considerably reduce the number of deaths. If you’re uncertain about when to get screenings, talk to your doctor for more information.

• Get your shots.
  While there are not many cancers that currently have a vaccine available, there are two that have great success rates. One of the available vaccines is for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

  Having HPV puts people at the greatest risk for developing cervical cancer, as well as a major risk of developing anal, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The other vaccine which can assist in cancer prevention is the hepatitis B vaccination. A long-lasting infection of Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer. Both vaccines have been shown safe and very effective.

• Give up on bad habits.  
  Researchers have proven over and over again that any tobacco use is harmful to health. It puts users at risk of not only lung cancer but also cancers of the larynx, mouth, esophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. A horrible thing, tobacco is.

  Environmental tobacco smoke may also endanger others with the risk of developing cancer. For people who may have used tobacco for years or who already have been diagnosed with one of the mentioned cancers, stopping with the tobacco abuse will still offer significant advantages, including longer life expectancy.

  While a glass of wine may be good for the heart, alcohol consumption increases one’s risk of cancer. Alcohol use is linked to cancers of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus,  colon, liver, and breast. When drinking alcohol, the body breaks down a chemical called acetaldehyde.

  This chemical has been proven to damage DNA and prevents the body from performing repairs. Without the ability to repair damaged DNA, cells may grow out of control and create a cancerous tumor.

Genetic Testing Is Increasing In Popularity

If cancer is assumed to run in your family, your doctor may suggest genetic testing. Genetic testing may help prognosticate the risk of a particular disease, discover genes that may pass diseases to your offspring, and even present information to help guide your health. Genetic tests are currently possible for breast, ovarian, colon, thyroid, prostate, pancreatic, melanoma, sarcoma, kidney, and stomach cancers.