Cancer is one of the most common causes of death today. What risk factors exist and promote the disease and can cancer be prevented?
A healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition at the top is particularly important for cancer prevention. In addition, early detection is an important factor for the chance of a cure. We summarize the most important things!
Why do you get cancer?
If the genetic material changes in an unnatural and pathological way and the cells do not divide properly, this is a potential trigger for cancer. Our immune system fights against this cancer development every day because the conditions for it exist even without additional risk factors. However, if it comes to the point that incorrect cell division occurs more frequently, the body is overwhelmed and as a result, growths arise in the tissue, which are known to us as tumors. If these are “malignant”, it is called cancer.
What are known risk factors for cancer?
- Carcinogen. This refers to all substances from the environment that cause cancer. This not only includes substances that are responsible for air pollution. Alsoradioactive radiationand poisons such as asbestos, for example, promote the development of cancer.
- Hereditary characteristics. It is no secret that previous illnesses in the family also increase the risk of cancer in the offspring. However, carcinogens also play an important role here. They influence whether the genetic makeup will actually change that much.
- Unhealthy lifestyle. It's not just smoking and alcohol consumption that we all know about. Lack of exercise can also promote certain types of cancer. If you expose yourself to the sun excessively and without protection, your skin becomes ill.
- Viruses and bacteria. There are viruses and other pathogens that are known to promote the development of cancer by causing changes in the body through infection. These include not only HIV and HPV, but also hepatitis viruses and bacteria that cause gastritis, as well as some others.
Preventing cancer – is it possible?
It can be said that cancer prevention is possible to a limited extent. If you avoid the causes mentioned above (which of course is not possible for everything), you can also reduce the risk of illness - but unfortunately this does not apply to all types of cancer.
How can you prevent cancer?
Proper nutrition for cancer prevention
For anti-cancer nutrition, access:
- Fruit and vegetables, preferably organic
- Whole grain products
- legumes
Foods against cancercan be found here.
Avoid or at least reduce:
- processed meat productsas well as red meat
- Salt
- Fett
- Zucker
- Alcohol
Further healthy lifestyle
- Get enough exercise because you can prevent cancer through exercise. If regular exercise is not possible, at least integrate more exercise into your everyday life, for exampleuse the stairsand walking or cycling more often instead of taking the car.
- Be sure to avoid being overweight. The above point should be adhered to especially in this case. If necessary, let your doctor help you with this.
- Refrain from smoking, and this doesn't just mean tobacco, but also e-cigarettes, shishas and the like.
- Protect yourself from harmful UV radiation to prevent skin cancer. Avoid the sun during the strong midday hours in summer and always apply sunscreen - not only while sunbathing, but also in everyday life and even in winter!
- The tanning salon should be avoided entirely.
Which vaccinations are recommended as a preventive measure?
There are now vaccinations against cancer, although not against all types, but against some that are favored by viruses. These include, for example, the hepatitis B vaccination and immunization against HPV.
A notice:Hormone replacement therapies are also not recommended and should not be carried out for longer than necessary. As soon as these are stopped, the risk of cancer is automatically reduced. In this case, always consult your doctor first.
Protect yourself at work and in your free time
If you have to deal with harmful substances for professional reasons, be sure to follow the safety regulations. If possible, look for a home in a clean environment (without air pollution) and ensure that the environment within your four walls is harmless: smoking indoors should be absolutely prohibited and harmful radiation (radon) should also be avoided. Harmful substances such as asbestos must be disposed of by professionals and replaced with harmless substances.
Prevent cancer with genetic risk and preventive examinations
A genetic test can determine how high your risk of genetic cancer is. However, this only makes sense if you have had cases of tumors and cancer in your family. Please seek specific advice beforehand. Accordingly, any other types of tests and especially online tests are to be viewed as unreliable.
Cancer screening is also very important if you want to prevent cancer by aiming for early detection. The age at which this is important depends primarily on the type of cancer. However, cancer prevention usually begins at the latest at the age of 35 (skin cancer). Genital cancer, for example, is examined from the age of 45, while colon cancer screening should begin at the age of 50 at the latest. The time periods may be extended if there have already been cases in the family.
