What is Cancer Prevention and Can You Lower Your Risk?
There is no immediate cancer cure available. Treatment is also increasingly more expensive. I believe the best bet is to know what to do and what not to do to decrease the chances of developing cancer. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Cancer prevention is knowing what you are fighting against, what its causes are, and what you can do to avoid it.
Is my Cancer Malignant?
The dangerous tumors are those considered malignant, or premalignant. Malignant tumors are made up of cancerous cells and can grow at an accelerated rate. Premalignant tumors are those that are caught early enough to be removed or treated but have the potential to turn cancerous or spread.
What are the most common causes of cancer?
Smoking tobacco accounts for a mind-boggling one-third of cancer deaths worldwide. Other main causes are morbid obesity, poor diet, toxic environments, and poor lifestyle habits.
How expensive is cancer?
For many people around the world, the first and most immediate danger of cancer is the price tag. Prevention is the only weapon against cancer. In the United States, the cost of cancer treatment is rarely less than US$51,000. This cost can make treatment an impossibility for many.
Cancer survival by the numbers
Statistics taken from the United States in 2021 show that 67% of cancer patients who receive treatment survive for at least five years after their diagnosis. This percentage drops to 18% for those who live on for another 20 years after diagnosis. It is estimated that only one out of every 100,000 people diagnosed with cancer will survive if they are unable to receive treatment and if they do not make adjustments towards a healthy lifestyle to prevent recurrence.
The Power of Prevention
With the cost of cancer treatment and the uncertainty of the treatment that is available, “prevention is better than cure” begins to ring true. Prevention is undoubtedly the most feasible and effective protection against recurrence.
Managing Cancer and Recurrence Prevention
Approximately 40% of global cancer deaths have the potential for prevention. Prevention is synonymous with avoidance. Anything that you know to increase the chances of cancer should be controlled and avoided.
Prevention involves reducing or eliminating modifiable risk factors:
Suggestions to cut the CRAP is deemed to be accurate.
- Eliminate carbonated beverages
- Refined sugars,
- Alternative foods and
- Processed food
The best advice is to make healthy lifestyle adjustments to whole foods, exercise, decrease stress, good hydration, and get plenty of sleep. Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, reduce body weight, protect skin from sun, regular cancer screenings, and a yearly physical. Note, some risks are not modifiable like age and predisposition of genetics.
The power of the mind
Appropriate therapy, support groups, a proactive mindset, and productive talks about cancer side effects can have a life-changing impact. Stress-reducing activities are highly recommended.
Surviving cancer and survivorship
Cancer survivors and cancer coaches can have an incredible impact on cancer awareness and prevention. Certified cancer coaches can help with navigating survivorship and helping to set action plans. Coaches and survivors help to channel energy into helping others do their best to avoid the same pain. Professional cancer coaches are recommended (those with medical designations like degrees in nursing, nutrition, psychology, or others).