Is Cancer Preventable?

Most people are aware that there are certain risk factors for cancer that are controllable through lifestyle changes. For example, you probably know that smoking can lead to lung cancer, so quitting smoking can reduce risks. A new study delved deeper into the risk factors for cancer and whether people might be able to prevent the disease. Researchers found that around four out of ten cancers can be prevented.

Research Results

For the new study, researchers examined information pertaining to cancer cases and deaths from 2014. The data included 26 different kinds of cancer. Four types of cancer were associated with risk factors that were controllable. Of them, lung cancer had the most preventable cases, with 85 percent. The second most preventable cancer was liver cancer, with 71 percent of cases linked to preventable causes. Colorectal and breast cancer were numbers four and five, with 54 percent and 29 percent, respectively. 

Among the risk factors that researchers deemed preventable were:

• Smoking.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Alcohol.
• Eating red meat or processed meats.
• Obesity.
• Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
• Not eating enough fiber.
• Too little physical activity.
• Exposure to UV rays.
• Not enough calcium.
• Infections, such as the human papillomavirus.

Reducing Cancer Risks

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic recommend several lifestyle changes that can reduce the risks of cancer. Some changes your aging family member can make to prevent cancer are:

• Stop Smoking: Smoking is associated with all sorts of cancer, including lung, mouth, pancreas, and kidney cancer. People who need help to quit should talk to their doctors since there are several smoking cessation products and strategies available.
• Improve Diet: Eating a diet that focuses on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, can reduce cancer risks. Avoiding processed meats and drinking alcohol in moderation can also help.
• Exercise: Seniors should try to be physically active at least 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week. 
• Healthy Weight: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight cuts the risks for many cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, colon, and kidney cancer.
• Sunscreen: Using sunscreen and other methods to protect skin from the sun’s rays can help prevent skin cancer.

Hiring a senior care provider can help your aging relative to live a healthier lifestyle. Senior care providers can prepare healthy meals and encourage older adults to exercise. They can also remind seniors to use sunscreen, and help to apply it, if needed. Senior care providers can also be an excellent support when a person is trying to quit smoking or is working toward a weight loss goal.

Sources
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20171121/study-more-than-4-in-10-cancers-preventable
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816?pg=2
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/lifetime.htm

IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME SENIOR CARE IN CHICAGO, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.