Cancer prevention — Common risk factors and tips to prevent them

Overview

Cancer is a vast group of diseases that hinders cell division in both the human as well as the animal body. It causes uncontrollable cell growth in the body and often leads to tumors.

A cell is the elemental unit of the body. It is the one that contains all the complex life molecules in it. The most fundamental as well as astonishing feature of the cell is its ability to divide and give birth to new cells. This is how life evolves and continues on this planet earth.

But when this basic process of the cell, that is cell division, gets hindered, it leads to vicious diseases like cancer. Cancer tends to inhibit the normal working of cells.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. With changing lifestyles, many factors can trigger cancer. This makes it essential for you to be aware of cancer, and how to prevent cancer naturally before its occurrence.

How does Cancer work?

The human body is built with millions of cells. These cells grow, divide, give birth to new cells and finally die. But sometimes the cells get damaged and behave abnormally.

These abnormal cells then grow and divide uncontrollably by exceeding the normal limits, leading to the accumulation of damaged or abnormal cells in any area of your body. This often (but not in all cases) leads to cancerous tumours. This condition is called cancer.

Cancer can affect any part of your body. Some common cancers are thyroid cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. It can also affect your blood cells, in such cases, it is called Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.

What are the risk factors of cancer?

Unlike some other diseases like Malaria or Tuberculosis, the exact causes or risk factors are hardly known for cancer. One cannot exactly say why this person has got cancer and why the other person hasn’t.

Yet, a variety of studies have revealed some common factors that have a high potential to trigger cancer. Some of them are:

• Your age
• Family history
• Chronic inflammation
• Alcohol usage
• Any form of tobacco usage
• Eating habits and diet
• Exposed to carcinogenic agents (cancer-causing agents)
• Sunlight
• Radiation
• Immuno-suppressants

Diagnosis of Cancer 

Diagnosis of Cancer through a single test is difficult. A thorough medical history, physical examination and diagnostic tests are usually necessary for a patient’s full evaluation. 

Finding out if someone has cancer or if another disease with a similar prognosis manifests like cancer symptoms requires several tests.

Effective diagnostic testing is employed to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer, track the progression of the disease, and treat it. 

Imaging, laboratory tests, tumour biopsies, endoscopic examinations, surgery and genetic testing are diagnostic methods for cancer.

Physical exam 

The physical examination requires looking for external signs or symptoms of cancer. A doctor might check several parts of the body for lumps that could be cancerous. 

They may also check for abnormalities during a physical examination, such as skin colour changes or organ enlargements that could be signs of cancer.

Laboratory test 

Cancer is often signified by high or low levels of specific substances in the body. Therefore, lab tests that detect these compounds in the blood, urine or other body fluids can aid doctors in making a diagnosis. 

Some laboratory analyses check for tumour markers in blood or tissue samples. In reaction to cancer, cancer cells and other cells in the body release chemicals known as tumour markers. 

Normal cells and cancer cells produce the majority of tumour markers, but cancer cells do so at a substantially higher rate.

Imaging tests 

Imaging tests produce internal images of several body parts or organs that enable the doctor to determine the presence of a tumour. There are various imaging tests, including

CT scan

A CT scan takes pictures of the organs from various angles using an x-ray scanner connected to a computer. These photographs are used to produce in-depth 3-D models of the inside of the body.

MRI

In MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), radio waves and a magnetic field are used to form pictures of the body. 

Detailed images of the internal body parts are obtained through an MRI, which can help distinguish between healthy and harmful tissues.

During MRI, the patient should remain motionless on a table that is slid into a lengthy, elongated chamber. 

Before or during the MRI exam, one might occasionally receive an injection of a specific dye into a vein. Tumours may seem brighter in the images when using this contrast agent dye.

Ultrasound 

Ultrasound examination uses high-energy sound waves that are inaudible to humans. The body’s internal tissues reflect the sound waves. 

These echoes are used by a computer to produce images of specific regions inside the body and are referred to as sonograms.

Nuclear scan

During a nuclear scan, radioactive material is used to take images of the internal organs of the human body. Nuclear scans are also known as radionuclide scans.

PET scan

A PET scan is a type of nuclear scan that forms finely detailed 3-D images of the internal organs where glucose is absorbed. The images can be used to detect cancer in the body because cancer cells are known to absorb more glucose than healthy ones.

Bone scan

Bone scans are nuclear scans that help detect abnormal bone growth or injury. They can be used to diagnose cancer that has spread to the bones or bone cancer (also called metastatic bone tumours).

X-rays

X-rays use low radiation dosages to provide images of the internal organs. The patient will be positioned by an x-ray technician, who will also point the x-ray beam in the right direction through their body. 

The person is advised to remain completely motionless throughout the procedure and might need to hold their breath for a short span.

Biopsy 

To diagnose cancer, doctors usually perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a technique where the doctor removes a sample of tissue. To detect cancerous tissue, a pathologist examines it under a microscope and performs other tests.

To obtain a biopsy sample, the healthcare practitioner uses a needle, endoscopy or performs surgery. Surgery is most commonly preferred, where a surgeon removes tissue with abnormal cells for analysis.

Cancer Prevention

The mortality rate of most cancer types can be decreased through screening and prevention. Treatment is typically the most effective in treating cancer at an early stage and preventing cancer development.

Screening detects abnormalities before they become clinically evident. Prevention methods focus on reducing cancer-inducing environmental and lifestyle risk factors.

How to prevent cancer naturally?

Once you know your risk factors, you have a better chance of preventing cancer. You cannot completely guard yourself from cancer, however, you can tremendously reduce the incidence of its occurrence.

Avoid tobacco

Tobacco usage is closely linked with cancer. Using tobacco in any form, for example, by smoking, chewing, etc makes you prone to various types of cancer.

Smoking leads to lung, mouth and throat cancer among other types, whereas chewing tobacco leads to mouth and pancreatic cancer. It is possible that you may even get exposed to the risk of cancer from passive smoking.

Quitting tobacco usage is extremely necessary to safeguard you from the risk of cancer. Many easy ways are recommended by health experts and listed on the internet to quit your addiction to tobacco.

Anti-cancer fruits

You can prevent the risk of cancer by adopting a diet plan that is rich in anti-cancer fruits. Some popular diets like the Mediterranean diet are full of fruits besides other items.

You can include berries in your diet as they have high antioxidant properties. Adding even a small serving of berries to your daily meal can increase your resistance to cancer.

Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, etc give firm resistance against the development of cancer in the digestive and respiratory systems, according to some studies. They are also the best antioxidant foods for cancer prevention.

Another common fruit (often comes under the category of vegetables) is tomato. Tomatoes contain a compound called lycopene that possesses anti-cancer properties. They are highly useful in preventing prostate cancer, as per some studies.

Eating a healthy diet

It is highly impossible to filter out all carcinogenic agents from food items. In these modern times fail to think twice about what are all risks available by consuming unhealthy foods.

Many food outlets supply food that is cooked in unhealthy ways. You need to be cautious when it comes to fatty, tasty and/or fried foods. The best food for cancer prevention is the one that has fewer or no carcinogenic agents.

You need to avoid foods that are rich in trans fats. You also need to limit or completely stop the intake of processed meats.

Regular exercise

A regular physical workout is a key to avoiding various health issues. It helps you reduce the risk of various types of cancer, especially colon, breast, prostate, lung cancer and kidney cancer.

 If you have a busy schedule, even 30 minutes of workouts such as aerobics or cardio will be beneficial in cancer prevention.

Vaccination

Although there are no vaccines that can give you protection from cancer, vaccination indirectly provides you the best chance to prevent some forms of cancer.

Hepatitis B poses a high risk of liver cancer. Getting vaccinated for Hepatitis B reduces your risk of attracting liver cancer.

Similarly, Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a disease that is transmitted through sexual activities can expose one to cervical and other genital cancers. With vaccination, one can prevent these types of cancers.

Some other ways to avoid the risk of getting cancer are:

• Don’t get exposed to radiation unnecessarily. Use a proper shield if you work in such places. However, electromagnetic radiation and microwave radiation do not pose the risk of cancer.
• Avoid getting exposed to industrial and environmental toxins such as asbestos, benzene, PCB, etc.
• Include foods that are rich in vitamin B such as milk, cheese, tuna fish, etc.
• Limit your alcohol consumption.

When to see a doctor? 

Doctor consultation is advisable when there is a new sign or symptom which is different and that keeps worsening.

Additionally, being updated with regular cancer screenings, such as those for lung, breast, colon, cervical, and other types of cancer, is necessary to know the symptoms of the disease.

When a doctor suspects cancer, the patient is required to visit an oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer. 

A word of concern

Cancer is, by far, one of the most devastating diseases in terms of the health of an individual and the financial situation of a family. With a plethora of inventions in medical technology, treating cancer is not as difficult as it was a decade ago.

In times of health emergencies due to cancer, you can protect yourself and your loved ones by securing a health insurance policy specifically designed to cover cancer and related illness.

For example, in Star Health Insurance, you can avail yourself of attractive coverage towards cancer treatment in policies such as Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy and Star Cancer Care Gold.

Although there is no complete protection from cancer, you can eradicate several possibilities of getting exposed to it with slight changes in your lifestyle.

FAQ

What is my chance of recovery with cancer treatment? 

A study suggests that 25 to 50 per cent of new cancer treatments are successful. Though recovery depends on the type and severity of cancer, there is no guaranteed treatment and cure for cancer. But modern treatment options help extend the life span of a person and, in rare cases, cure a person completely. 

How many treatment sessions will I have? 

Each therapy can last a few hours or days, depending on the medicine or drug combination. Treatment sessions can be every week, every two, three or four weeks. 

The patient typically receives 4 to 8 cycles of therapy over the course of treatment. A cycle is an interval between the end of one therapy session and the beginning of the following. 

One needs to take a break to allow the body to recover after each cycle of treatment.

What are some prevention strategies for cancer? 

The essential prevention strategies include:

• Refraining from tobacco use.
• Engaging in adequate physical activity.
• Protecting from the sun and
• Consuming nutritious and antioxidant-rich foods.

What are the benefits and risks of each cancer treatment? 

The most effective and common cancer treatment is chemotherapy. The procedure benefits the body by killing cancer cells. The risk of the treatment is that it can harm some healthy cells in the body. Numerous undesirable side effects, such as fatigue, becoming sick and feeling unwell, may result from this.