While it may be impossible to control each and every risk factor, changing individual behavior and lifestyle as well as controlling environmental exposure could prevent cancer.
Behavioral Factors: These factors include (a) tobacco use, (b) poor dietary choices, and (c) physical inactivity. They claim nearly 50–75 percent of cancer deaths in the United States.
Tobacco use: Tobacco alone causes a third of all cancer deaths. The National Cancer Institute (USA) Cancer Trends Progress Report reveals that the younger a person starts smoking, the greater the lifelong risk of developing smoking-related cancers. These include cancers of the lung, larynx, mouth (lip, tongue, mouth, and throat), esophagus, pharynx, acute myeloid leukemia and cancers of the pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, stomach, and liver. Avoiding smoking but also smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff, also known as spit tobacco), cigars, and bidis (small, brown, hand-rolled, flavored cigarettes) can go a long way in reducing the cancer burden.
It may not be surprising, therefore, that hefty cigarette taxes, anti-tobacco media campaigns, restrictions on public smoking, and community mobilization combined with other interventions are targeted at decreasing access to tobacco products. Every 10% increase in cigarette price lowers youth access by 3.7%, according to the US National Cancer Institute.
Healthy Eating: Eating well is essential to maintaining a healthy body weight . Regular, balanced and low-fat diet along with a combination of fruits and vegetables is vital. Several research studies have linked consumption of red meat and alcohol with increased cancer risk. It might make sense, therefore, to avoid such a menu or at least minimize their intake to keep cancer at bay.
Physical Exercise: Several scientific studies have shown regular physical exercise to cut the risk of colon cancer by half as well as lower the risk of other cancers including breast, endometrial, prostate and so forth. On the other hand, obesity and lack of physical activity have been proven to cause colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, and esophageal cancers.
Environmental Factors: The United States Center for Disease Control's Reports on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals indicate that "people exposed to pesticides, such as farmers, pesticide applicators, manufacturers, and crop dusters, have high rates of blood and lymphatic system cancers; cancers of the lip, stomach, lung, brain, and prostate; as well as melanoma and other skin cancers." It is vital that anyone working with such environmental carcinogens should exercise caution, follow application procedures and wear appropriate protective equipment (gloves, masks, etc.). It is safe and hygienic to wash fruits and vegetables with water to help reduce pesticide exposure. Perhaps, it may be desirable to go organic, if affordable.
Reducing unprotected exposure to the sun and to artificial light from tanning beds, tanning booths, and sun lamps has been shown to lower the risk of skin cancer. Basal and squamous cell cancers are the most common types of skin cancer, and are preventable.
Technology for Cancer Prevention: Early detection, for instance, through mammography (for breast cancer), Pap test (for cervical cancer), fecal occult blood test (for colorectal cancer) and colorectal endoscopy (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy for colorectal cancer) may prevent cancer. Such screening may enable a physician to catch the disease early on for prompt intervention medically or surgically. Advances in medical technology have also facilitated genetic testing for individual risk profile to help prevent the onset of disease by appropriate behavioral and lifestyle interventions.
