How to reduce your risk of cancer

8/7/2019 How to reduce your risk of cancer

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How to Reduce Your Risk of CancerHow to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer


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OverviewOverview

Cancer by the numbersCancer by the numbers

Some interesting observationsSome interesting observations

What we know about lifestyle and cancerWhat we know about lifestyle and cancerriskrisk

How you can reduce your risk of developingHow you can reduce your risk of developing

cancercancer

Why time is on our side; sort of ...Why time is on our side; sort of ...


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Cancer by the NumbersCancer by the Numbers


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The Scope of the ProblemThe Scope of the Problem

More than 1 million people are diagnosedMore than 1 million people are diagnosed

with cancer every year; more than 500,000with cancer every year; more than 500,000

people die of cancer yearlypeople die of cancer yearly

More than a third of US population aliveMore than a third of US population alive

today will likely get some form of cancertoday will likely get some form of cancer

1 in 2 lifetime risk for men, 1 in 3 for women1 in 2 lifetime risk for men, 1 in 3 for women

At least 1 in 5 people will die of cancerAt least 1 in 5 people will die of cancer


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Some Interesting ObservationsSome Interesting Observations


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Environmental Exposures and CancerEnvironmental Exposures and Cancer

The link between cancer risk and ourThe link between cancer risk and our

environment is now well establishedenvironment is now well established

The earliest observation was made during theThe earliest observation was made during the

1700s1700s Chimney sweeps (now theres a fun job!) were noted to have aChimney sweeps (now theres a fun job!) were noted to have a

much higher incidence of scrotal cancer than men whomuch higher incidence of scrotal cancer than men who

worked in other occupationsworked in other occupations

Subsequently a link has been establishedSubsequently a link has been establishedbetween the development of cancer andbetween the development of cancer and

exposure to many chemicals and environmentalexposure to many chemicals and environmental

pollutantspollutants

These exposures cause a small percentage of cancersThese exposures cause a small percentage of cancers


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Dietary Fat and CancerDietary Fat and Cancer

In Western countries there is a clearIn Western countries there is a clear

association between high fat intake andassociation between high fat intake and

cancercancer

Colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breastColon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast

cancercancer

Countries that consume the most fat perCountries that consume the most fat per

capita have higher death rates from coloncapita have higher death rates from coloncancer than those that have the lowest fatcancer than those that have the lowest fat

consumption ratesconsumption rates


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Immigrants and TheirDescendantsImmigrants and TheirDescendants

Often HaveDifferent Cancer RatesOften HaveDifferent Cancer Rates

Stomach cancer isvery common in JapanStomach cancer isvery common in Japan

This is related to the consumption of large amounts ofThis is related to the consumption of large amounts of

dried salted fish, smoked fish, and pickledvegetables.dried salted fish, smoked fish, and pickledvegetables.

Fresh fruits andvegetables are not eaten in largeFresh fruits andvegetables are not eaten in largeamountsamounts

People who grew up in Japan and relocate toPeople who grew up in Japan and relocate to

Hawaii continue to have a high rate of stomachHawaii continue to have a high rate of stomach

cancercancer The descendants of Japanese migrants in HawaiiThe descendants of Japanese migrants in Hawaii

have much lower rates of stomach cancerhave much lower rates of stomach cancer

Their diet is richer in uncookedvegetables andTheir diet is richer in uncookedvegetables and

fruit juicesfruit juices


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Eating Patterns are Linked To Cancer RiskEating Patterns are Linked To Cancer Risk

Rates of esophageal and nasopharyngeal cancerRates of esophageal and nasopharyngeal cancer

are high in China and other Asian countriesare high in China and other Asian countries

This appears to be related to high intake of saltedThis appears to be related to high intake of salted

foods and smoked foods, combined with low intake offoods and smoked foods, combined with low intake offreshvegetables and fruitfreshvegetables and fruit

In some Near and Middle Eastern Countries thereIn some Near and Middle Eastern Countries there

is an association between esophageal canceris an association between esophageal cancerand frequent intake of boiling hot teaand frequent intake of boiling hot tea

This appears to be the result of chronic injury to theThis appears to be the result of chronic injury to the

esophagus, with higher proliferation of cells duringesophagus, with higher proliferation of cells during

the repair processthe repair process


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What We Know About Lifestyle andWhat We Know About Lifestyle and

CancerCancer


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Links between lifestyle and cancerLinks between lifestyle and cancer

Cigarette SmokingCigarette Smoking

The most preventable cause of cancerThe most preventable cause of cancer

Has been clearly linked to lung cancerHas been clearly linked to lung cancer

Also plays a role in causing oral cavity cancer,Also plays a role in causing oral cavity cancer,

bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer,bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer,

In 2001 about 172, 000 people will die of smokingIn 2001 about 172, 000 people will die of smoking--

related cancersrelated cancers Unlike many other causes of cancer, the effects ofUnlike many other causes of cancer, the effects of

smoking are reversible if the smoker quitssmoking are reversible if the smoker quits


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The Fat LinkThe Fat Link

Increased intake of fat is associated withIncreased intake of fat is associated with

increased production of bile acidsincreased production of bile acids

bile acids promote changes in the intestinebile acids promote changes in the intestine

that make cancer more likelythat make cancer more likely

A reduction in fat intake results in lower ratesA reduction in fat intake results in lower rates

of gastrointestinal cancerof gastrointestinal cancer


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Other Components of Our DietOther Components of Our Diet

The use of diets with high meat content isThe use of diets with high meat content is

associated with increased cancer riskassociated with increased cancer risk

Overcooking of meats is particularly badOvercooking of meats is particularly bad

Barbecued meat contains high amounts ofBarbecued meat contains high amounts of

cancercancer--causing substancescausing substances

Preservatives in food appear to promotePreservatives in food appear to promote

the development of cancerthe development of cancer Nitrites in packaged meat can be converted inNitrites in packaged meat can be converted in

our bodies to cancerour bodies to cancer--inducing nitrosaminesinducing nitrosamines


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The Good StuffThe Good Stuff

Fruits andvegetables appear to reduce the risk ofFruits andvegetables appear to reduce the risk of

developing cancerdeveloping cancer

Vitamins (A, C and E) and other components (betaVitamins (A, C and E) and other components (beta

carotene, flavanoids, etc) prevent cancer by helping tocarotene, flavanoids, etc) prevent cancer by helping torepair damaged cellsrepair damaged cells

Fiber in fruits andvegetables is associated withFiber in fruits andvegetables is associated with

decreased risk of gastrointestinal cancerdecreased risk of gastrointestinal cancer Fiber may help reduce the exposure of the lining of theFiber may help reduce the exposure of the lining of the

gastrointestinal tract to cancergastrointestinal tract to cancer--causing substances incausing substances in

foodfood


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More Good StuffMore Good Stuff

The use of fish is suspected to be a way toThe use of fish is suspected to be a way to

reduce the risk of cancerreduce the risk of cancer

Animal studies confirm this, but evidence inAnimal studies confirm this, but evidence in

people is not yet clearpeople is not yet clear


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The Role of Sun ExposureThe Role of Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet light and skin cancerUltraviolet light and skin cancer

By far the most important source of UV lightBy far the most important source of UV light

exposure is sunlightexposure is sunlight

This is a well established linkThis is a well established link

More than 1 million cases of nonMore than 1 million cases of non--melanoma skinmelanoma skin

cancer occur each yearcancer occur each year

This kind of skin cancer is curableThis kind of skin cancer is curable Over 50,000 cases of melanoma occurOver 50,000 cases of melanoma occur

Melanoma is more dangerous; 8,000 people die ofMelanoma is more dangerous; 8,000 people die of

melanoma yearlymelanoma yearly


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The Alcohol LinkThe Alcohol Link

Heavy alcohol use is associated withHeavy alcohol use is associated with

increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity,increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity,

larynx, esophagus, and pancreaslarynx, esophagus, and pancreas

The risk is even higher in people who smokeThe risk is even higher in people who smoke

and drink heavilyand drink heavily

Interestingly, moderate alcohol use may beInterestingly, moderate alcohol use may bebeneficial to the cardiovascular systembeneficial to the cardiovascular system


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The Role of ExerciseThe Role of Exercise

Obesity had been clearly linked to increasedObesity had been clearly linked to increased

cancer riskcancer risk

kidney cancer, uterine cancer, gallbladderkidney cancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder

cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, andcancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, andstomach cancerstomach cancer

It is estimated that about a third of colon cancersIt is estimated that about a third of colon cancers

may be related to physical inactivitymay be related to physical inactivity

People who are more active tend to have lowerPeople who are more active tend to have lower

rates of cancerrates of cancer


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It is estimated that anotherIt is estimated that another

third of all cancer deaths canthird of all cancer deaths can

be prevented by lifestylebe prevented by lifestyle

changeschanges

About a third of all cancerAbout a third of all cancer

deaths are due to smokingdeaths are due to smoking


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How To Reduce Your RiskHow To Reduce Your Riskof Cancerof Cancer


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Regarding a certain habit....Regarding a certain habit....

Quit Smoking!!!!Quit Smoking!!!! It may not be not easy, but it is worth itIt may not be not easy, but it is worth it

Smokers who quit before age 50 willSmokers who quit before age 50 willdecrease their risk of dying in the next 15decrease their risk of dying in the next 15

years by 50%years by 50%

Dont start smokingDont start smoking Not an issue for most adultsNot an issue for most adults

80% of smokers start in their teens80% of smokers start in their teens


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SomeDietary RecommendationsSomeDietary Recommendations

Choose most of the food you eat from plantChoose most of the food you eat from plant

sourcessources

Eat 5 or more servings of fruits andvegetablesEat 5 or more servings of fruits andvegetables

dailydaily

Eat food from plant sources such as bread,Eat food from plant sources such as bread,

cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beanscereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans

several times each dayseveral times each day


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MoreDietary RecommendationsMoreDietary Recommendations

Decrease the amount of fat in your dietDecrease the amount of fat in your diet

Fat calories should be less than 30% of totalFat calories should be less than 30% of total

caloric intakecaloric intake

Limit consumption of alcoholLimit consumption of alcohol

Just a few drinks per week (every week) willJust a few drinks per week (every week) will

increase the risk of breast cancerincrease the risk of breast cancer

Women who drink regularly can reduce theirWomen who drink regularly can reduce theirrisk of breast cancer by reducing alcoholrisk of breast cancer by reducing alcohol

consumptionconsumption


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Even More Dietary RecommendationsEven More Dietary Recommendations

Reduce your consumption of meatReduce your consumption of meat

Limit consumption of nitriteLimit consumption of nitrite--preservedpreserved

foodsfoods

Hot dogs, sausage, hams, smoked meatsHot dogs, sausage, hams, smoked meats

Do not overcook meatDo not overcook meat

Avoid barbecued or blackened foodsAvoid barbecued or blackened foods

Consume fish regularlyConsume fish regularly


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Dont Forget to ExerciseDont Forget to Exercise

Engage in at least moderate physical

activity for 30 minutes or more on most

days of the week

Stay within your healthy weight range

This strategy helps to reduce the risk of

cardiovascular disease and diabetes as

well


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How to reduce the risk of skin cancerHow to reduce the risk of skin cancer

Reduce exposure to the sunReduce exposure to the sun

Every day, not just when you spend all day at the shoreEvery day, not just when you spend all day at the shore

Ultraviolet rays are most intense between 10 amUltraviolet rays are most intense between 10 am

and 4 pmand 4 pm Cover upCover up

Dark colors provide more protectionDark colors provide more protection

If you can see through the fabric, then UV light can getIf you can see through the fabric, then UV light can get

throughthrough Use a sunscreen with SPF of at least 15Use a sunscreen with SPF of at least 15

Apply at least 20Apply at least 20--30 minutes before going out30 minutes before going out

Avoid sunlamps and tanning boothsAvoid sunlamps and tanning booths


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Some Encouraging Information...Some Encouraging Information...


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Why Time Is On Our Side; sort of...Why Time Is On Our Side; sort of...

Cancer as a multiCancer as a multi--step processstep process


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The MultiThe Multi--step Nature of Cancerstep Nature of Cancer

Cancer is associated with agingCancer is associated with aging

80% of all cancers are diagnosed after age 5580% of all cancers are diagnosed after age 55

Cancer is the result of a sequence of steps duringCancer is the result of a sequence of steps during

whichDNA is repeatedly damagedwhichDNA is repeatedly damaged This takes years to occurThis takes years to occur

Many cells in our bodies may be in the earlyMany cells in our bodies may be in the early

stages of becoming cancer cellsstages of becoming cancer cells

If we begin to modify our lifestyle on NovemberIf we begin to modify our lifestyle on November

1st, 2001, the steps that would have produced1st, 2001, the steps that would have produced

cancer onDecember 1st, 2021, may not occur untilcancer onDecember 1st, 2021, may not occur until

20362036


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The Risk of Developing cancer by ageThe Risk of Developing cancer by age


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Educate YourselfEducate Yourself

There is plenty of information everywhereThere is plenty of information everywhere Some good, some badSome good, some bad

Choose reputable sourcesChoose reputable sources

Great internet site: American Cancer SocietyGreat internet site: American Cancer Society

www.cancer.orgwww.cancer.org

Avoid sources with a agendas or extravagantAvoid sources with a agendas or extravagant

claimsclaims

antianti--vaccine sitesvaccine sites conspiracy sitesconspiracy sites

claims that pharmaceutical companies and the governmentclaims that pharmaceutical companies and the government

are suppressing cancer cures and so onare suppressing cancer cures and so on

drugs that cure or prevent all types of cancerdrugs that cure or prevent all types of cancer

Documents

How to reduce your risk of cancer