FEBRUARY—NATIONAL CANCER PREVENTION MONTH

Steps to Reduce Your Risk for

Cancer

Making changes in certain lifestyle habits can help prevent cancer.  To reduce your risk for developing cancer: 

·         Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and salt.

·         Maintain a healthy weight.

·         Be physically active every day.

·         Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

·         Protect your skin.  
Avoid ultraviolet (UV) light from both the sun and tanning salons.

·         Prepare foods safely.
Avoid cooking meat, poultry and fish at high temperatures by grilling, barbecuing, broiling or pan frying that can cause cancer-promoting substances called HCAs (heterocyclic amines) to form on the surface of the meats.

·         Practice safe sex. 
Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse and intercourse with many partners that put people at risk for certain viruses that may lead to cancer including the human papilloma virus which causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B and C viruses which can cause liver cancer.

·         Do not use tobacco in any form.

·         Get regular cancer screenings.

Sources:  “Simple Steps to Prevent Cancer,” American Institute for Preventive Medicine, www.aicr.org.  “Living Healthy, 7 Steps to Cancer Prevention,” Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, www.preventcancer.org.