How to take preventive measures for Cancer?

No one wants to learn that they, or their loved ones are at risk of developing cancer. But we willingly or unwillingly subject ourselves to situations that are harmful for our health, and germinate the root cause of perilous diseases such as cancer.

According to the National Cancer Registry Programme of the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR), more than 1300 Indians die every day due to cancer. But research has shown that it is possible to prevent deaths due to cancer by making simple changes in your daily life.

Although there are a number of factors that cause this global pandemic condition (some beyond our control such as age or burgeoning population) most of them are preventable. Your proclivity towards cancer isn’t driven by sheer luck or bad genes, but is driven by the life that you lead and environment in which you live.  Listed below simple tips can help you reduce the risk of cancer.

• Say no to tobacco: Not just cancer, smoking should be avoided to build a healthy environment for you and people around you, who get affected through passive smoking. India’s leading oncologist, Dr Suresh Advani says, “40% of cancers in India are related to tobacco. The worst part is that even if you change the habits today, effects of smoking could show 20 years later.” 
   
• Industrious lifestyle: Obesity increases your risk of developing cancer, and the main causes of obesity are lack of physical activity and poor diet. This industrialized lifestyle causes most cancer deaths than any other known cause.

• Get timely vaccines: Both preventive, and treatment vaccines are available for cancer. These vaccines train your immune system to attack antigens, and lower the risk of cancer-development.
• Avoid Meat: Meat consumption has often been associated with stomach cancer, bowel cancer and other forms of illnesses. Cancer Council recommends people to limit or avoid eating processed meats.

Cancer has been one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, but you can considerably reduce the risk by adopting a healthier lifestyle. While prevention can substantially increase your chances of being cancer-averse, medical care should be uncompromised with, when working towards cancer treatments.