Cancer Prevention

Despite the odds, you can take steps now to greatly decrease your chances of developing cancer. It's not just a throw of the dice, but a combination of your hereditary risk factors and the type of lifestyle you lead.

Quit Smoking. Smoking is linked to 10 or more different cancers and is responsible for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. It increases the risk for cancers of the lung, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, liver, cervix, kidney, stomach, colon, rectum, bladder and some forms of leukemia, according to statistics from Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. (Research also shows that the smoke blown your way from others' cigarettes can endanger your health.) As soon as you quit smoking, your lungs begin healing themselves, and some changes that might lead to cancer can be totally reversed. Check with your health care provider or health plan to find out about classes that can help you kick the habit.

If you drink, drink in moderation. Heavy drinkers may have a two- to six-fold risk of developing throat or mouth cancer. Heavy drinking is more than 2 drinks a day for men younger than 65, and more than 1 drink a day for women of any age and men over 65. The chances of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, liver and breast are also greater if you drink alcohol. The news is even worse for drinkers who smoke. The risks of throat and mouth cancers are 15 times greater, and the risks of esophageal cancer are up to 25 times greater. Heavy drinking may keep the liver from breaking down potentially cancer-causing substances. Alcohol may also irritate tissues of the mouth, throat and esophagus, making them more prone to cancer.

Eat less fat. Scientists are finding that a high-fat diet may be linked to an increased risk for colon cancer. Fat may cause the body to make some bile acids that promote cancer, and it definitely increases production of hormones. This tends to trigger the growth of some tumors in overweight people. Several suspected cancer-causing chemicals are first stored in animal fat and then in the body fat of people who eat meat.

Protect your skin from the sun.Most skin cancers are caused by accumulating too much exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays and to the high-energy bulbs in tanning parlors; or from sunburns as a child. It's easy to protect yourself from this threat: Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., wear clothing such as hats and long-sleeved shirts that block the sun, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays year-round. Make sure you use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for breast cancer (in women over the age of 50), and cancers of the colon, endometrium (lining of the uterus), esophagus and kidneys. Eating healthy foods in moderation and exercising regularly will help you tone up and lose weight.

Avoid dangerous chemicals. Workplaces are now regulated so that hazardous materials are not routinely released into the air, but if you work around chemicals or dust, tell your health care provider during your next physical examination. Whenever you use paint, varnish or any other chemical indoors, leave windows open. Have your house checked for radon leakage. Use pesticides and herbicides carefully, and wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.