“You are one decision away from a totally different life.” — Mark Batterson
Being diagnosed and treated for cancer can be the most significant event in a person’s life. The impacts go beyond the cancer symptoms and side effects of therapy. This journey affects the lives of the patient’s family members and caretakers in varied and numerous ways.
It’s worth noting that routine habits can have a profound impact on our future. Many cancers are preventable. Basic lifestyle modifications can significantly impact the incidence of cancer. These changes not only will reduce your cancer risk, but also improve your long-term health.
SMOKING CESSATION
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer. Unfortunately, with the incidence of smoking being so high, lung cancer is the most common cancer, except for skin cancer, in the United States. Smoking causes a staggering 30 percent of all cancer-related deaths in the United States. A smoker loses, on average, 13 years of life due to tobacco use. Smoking also is related to other cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancers, pancreatic cancer and urinary/ bladder cancer.
Smoking cessation not only reduces the risk of cancer, but it also may improve the outcome of cancer treatment. Various resources are available to help with smoking cessation, including patches, prescription medications, support groups and behavioral therapy. We encourage you to talk to your health care provider about smoking cessation and not give up until you have successfully quit.
DIET
Dietary choices also can affect cancer risk. Consuming large amounts of red meat has been associated with increased incidence of colorectal and advanced prostate cancer. A large study recently showed that a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seafood, nuts and legumes, can lower cancer risk by up to 12 percent. Several studies have shown that intake of low-fat dairy products protects against breast cancer in premenopausal women.
EXERCISE
Physical activity and exercise have been linked to a reduction in the risk of colon and breast cancer. A large meta-analysis recently showed that risk of colon cancer was reduced by 24 percent in the most active individuals versus the least active individuals.
As we can see, lifestyle modifications can certainly decrease the likelihood of developing cancer. We all should make a conscious effort to ensure our lifestyle is as healthy as possible so we can enjoy life to the fullest.
Dr. Hamza Minhas is a physician with Memorial Physician Clinics specializing in hematology, internal medicine and oncology. Reach him at (228) 575-1234.
