Personal Best Health Wellness - Cancer Prevention

Nearly 600,000 Americans die of cancer every year, and many of these deaths are preventable. In addition to scheduling routine screening for the most common cancers, act proactively to reduce your risks.

1. Snuff it out. The major cancer culprit is tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco). This villain — linked to cancers of the lung, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, kidney and bladder — caused more than 180,000 cancer deaths annually nationwide in 2004, according to American Cancer Society estimates.
2. Fight with food. Eat foods from plant sources — fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains — which have an abundance of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other cancer-fighting substances. Also, if you eat a high-fat diet or are overweight, you're at increased risk of cancers of the colon, prostate, uterus and breast.
3. Skip the alcohol. Even a moderate amount of alcohol may raise your cancer risk which increases with the amount of alcohol you consume and the length of time you've been drinking regularly.
4. Be sun smart. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and the most preventable if you cover up — wear sunscreen outdoors all year to protect against the sun's damaging radiation.
5. Keep moving. Exercise plays a key role in weight control and preventing obesity — key factors for several kinds of cancer. Studies show regular exercise throughout your life can significantly reduce your risk for cancers of the breast and colon.