This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
8 Ways to Reduce Cancer Risk ¶
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, surpassing HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria combined. In Kenya, cancer is the third leading cause of death, with over 37,000 new cases reported annually and approximately 100 cancer deaths per day.
While cancer is curable if detected early, unfortunately, about 70-80 percent of patients diagnosed with cancer in Kenya are at advanced stages due to misdiagnosis and inadequate screening. Cancer is a lifestyle disease that can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Here are eight ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer:
1. Quit Smoking ¶
Smoking is the biggest cancer-causer globally, responsible for lung cancer, which kills more people than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. Smoking can also cause cancer of the mouth, nose, voice box, liver, stomach, kidney, bladder, colon, and some forms of blood cancer.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight ¶
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing 11 different kinds of cancer, including colon, throat, pancreatic, liver, kidney, breast (post-menopause), stomach, womb, ovarian, advanced prostate, and gallbladder. Excess belly fat is linked to higher cancer risk.
3. Get Enough Sleep ¶
Medical practitioners advise that adults should get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation depletes the body's store of white blood cells that can destroy tumors. Sleep deprivation is now being implicated in cases of colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
4. Exercise Regularly ¶
Exercise helps keep hormone levels healthy and the immune system robust, which are both great cancer defense mechanisms. Regular exercise reduces the risks of colon cancer by 24 percent, uterus cancer by 20 percent, and 12 percent in breast cancer.
5. Eat a Balanced Diet ¶
Fruits, vegetables, and legumes are healthy as they are rich in fiber that reduces the risk of developing colon cancer and keeps the digestive system running smoothly. However, red meat and processed food pose a risk to developing cancer.
6. Breastfeed for Months ¶
Breastfed kids are less likely to develop childhood cancer since the mother's milk has everything babies need for the first months of life. Breastfeeding can also help mothers reduce the risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
7. Reduce Alcohol Intake ¶
Drinking more alcohol is associated with developing all kinds of cancers of the digestive system, including mouth, throat, breast, stomach, colon, and liver cancers. Alcohol is dangerous as it irritates tissue, making it easier for carcinogens to sneak in and cause DNA damage in the body.
8. Take in Some Sunshine ¶
According to studies, people living at higher latitudes are at greater risk of developing 15 kinds of cancer than people who live closer to the equator and routinely get more sun. That list of cancers includes some of the most dangerous kinds, like breast, lung, lymphoma, pancreatic, and prostate.
