Can We Prevent Cancer by Changing Our Lifestyle?

In developed and developing countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death after heart disease. However, this rate decreases from year to year. The most important contributors are cancer prevention measures and treatment research. So what do we mean by prevention? Particularly changing lifestyle and prioritizing cancer screening matter for early diagnosis.

In a study published in JAMA Oncology, particularly four habits were observed to increase cancer risk . These are smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits (obesity) and inactivity. People avoiding these 4 habits carry a low cancer risk. Let us examine these points:

Smoking: At least 12 cancer types have a proven association with smoking. Through lifestyle changes and particularly smoking cessation, lung cancer can be prevented by up to 80-90%. For other cancers, cancer risk can be prevented by 10% to 70%.

Alcohol: Those who do not drink or drink little have a low risk. Alcohol consumption plays a role in the formation of colorectal, breast, mouth, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal and liver cancers.

Dietary Habits: Body mass index (BMI) is a measure assessing appropriate body weight relative to height. It is a unit used particularly to identify obesity and is calculated as weight divided by height squared. The study discussed here showed that a value between 18.5 - 27.5 reduced cancer risk. Obesity increases the risk of esophageal, colorectal, endometrial (uterine), kidney, liver and postmenopausal breast cancers.

Exercise: Regular exercise reduces colorectal, endometrial and breast cancer risk.

Obesity and inactivity may lead to more aggressive cancers and increase cancer risk. Also, escaping the effects of environmental factors during illness eases the course of the process.

People at low risk were also observed to be more conscious of their health. These people can access cancer imaging methods more readily. For example, in this study, looking at the rate of mammography in the last 2 years, it was 83% in those at low risk and 78% in those at high risk. Likewise, rates of colorectal endoscopic imaging were higher in low-risk than high-risk individuals.

In conclusion, although random mutations during stem cell division play an important role in cancer formation, lifestyle has an influence too great to ignore. Having checkups and trying to change our lifestyle and habits are measures we can take against cancer. In this way, we may prevent disease or ease its course.