Reduce Your Risk
Finding cancer early can lead to better outcomes – like living longer or with less side- effects. Screening tests can help detect cancer in its earliy stages, but you should always be alert for symptoms of the disease. Most importantly, listen to your body and report any changes or uncertainties to your doctor.
Information on cancer prevention continues to develop, and it is now well accepted that lifestyle choices affect the chances of getting cancer.
If you are aware of the signs and symptoms, cancer can be found early. While some risk factors are outside our control, reduce your risk by taking some simple steps:
Be Sun Smart
There were around 2000 deaths from skin cancer in 2010.
* Avoid using solariums and sunbeds* Avoid excessive exposure to the sun
* Use clothing and sunscreen
Be active
Physical activity reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer, and may reduce the risk of lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.
*Do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity 4+ days a week
Healthy diet
Obesity is a risk factor for breast, colon, endometrial and kidney cancers.
Exercise and a nutritious diet are the best ways to stay healthy.
* Avoid salt
* Avoid meats. Evidence shows that eating red, processed or preserved meats can cause cancer
* Lower your saturated and total fat
* Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit a day
* Lower your sugar intake (many foods contain sugar)
* Eat high fibre foods such as wholegrains
Limit alcohol
Alcohol is known to increase risk of breast, liver, colon, head and neck cancers.
*Limit alcohol to 2 standard drinks a day
Get screened and visit your GP
Finding cancer at an early stage increases the chances of successful treatment and improved survival. To find cancer early:
If you are aware of the signs and symptoms, cancer can be found early. While some risk factors are outside our control, reduce your risk by taking some simple steps:
For women over 40.
NATIONAL CERVICAL SCREENING PROGRAM
Promotes routine screening. Call 131556 or at National Cervical Screening Program
NATIONAL BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM
This program provides a free home bowel cancer screening kit for those eligible over 50.
Other Factors
Avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins
Such as asbestos fibers, benzene, aromatic amines, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Avoid infections that contribute to cancer,
Including hepatitis viruses, HIV, and the human papillomavirus. Many are transmitted sexually or through contaminated needles.
Make quality sleep a priority.
While there is little evidence linking lack of sleep directly, poor and insufficient sleep is linked to stress and weight gain, which is a cancer risk factor.
Get enough vitamin D.
Many experts now recommend 800 to 1,000 IU a day. While protection is far from proven, evidence suggests that vitamin D may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer and other malignancies. .
