Preventing cancer: some steps you can take                         

                Cancer is the second leading cause of death and many of us will have had to deal with it before our time is up. That doesn’t mean we can’t live a long and otherwise healthy life. Cancer survival rates are higher than ever thanks to timely screening tests, early diagnosis and sophisticated therapy.

            Genetics plays only a small role in cancer. The latest studies show that only 10 to 15 percent of cancers “run in the family.” The vast majority are due to things that we do to ourselves and it’s never too late to change lifestyle habits. Just these few might help you to avoid the “Big C.”

            Tobacco is by far the single most important avoidable cause of cancer. Lung cancer kills more women than breast, uterine and ovarian cancer combined. Tobacco-related cancers include that of the mouth, tongue, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, stomach, bladder and uterus. What a list! Some of these might not seem to be related to smoking but consider that the cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke get into the blood stream where they can affect susceptible tissues, including the breast. Quitting smoking lowers one’s risk of lung cancer but the threat is always there. The take-home lesson: don’t start smoking and if you do, quit today.

            Obesity is a major factor in cancer for several reasons. Fat cells don’t just sit there; they produce inflammatory chemicals that promote cancer. Fat cells also make estrogen, a factor in cancer of the breast and uterus. Altogether there are 14 different kinds of cancer that are associated with obesity. There may be more, for we are only about 40 years into the obesity epidemic that has been accelerating and cancer has a long lag time.

            Cancer of the colon is second only to that of the lung. Some of it is due to inherited factors but most is not. There is a strong association between eating red meat and colon cancer; barbecuing increases the risk. Conversely, persons who have a high intake of leafy green vegetables lower their risk of cancer. The lesson is pretty clear: cut back on red meat and eat more veggies, especially broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. I know what you’re thinking but I’m only the messenger.

            Quitting smoking, losing weight and trading steak for broccoli are real challenges but so is losing a lung, getting used to a colostomy or undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.