Five things oncologists do to reduce cancer risk

More than 1.4 million cases of cancer are diagnosed across India every year and, according to statistics, the number is only increasing. Doctors say that while most cancers are caused by various factors that are not under your control, many are caused by your lifestyle and dietary factors.

However, experts say there are many strategies that help reduce cancer risks and improve overall health. And that’s why many oncologists (doctors who treat cancer) follow these suggestions.

Some of these tips that you can also follow to stay away from cancer include:

Eat fresh foods

According to studies, eating ultra-processed foods, those that are loaded with saturated fats and preservatives, is one of the main reasons why various types of cancer spread and develop. For this reason, doctors recommend eating fresh and seasonal products, including fruits and vegetables. These not only provide you with nutrition (vitamins, proteins and other macro and micronutrients), but also help you lose weight.

Regular exercise and workouts.

Doing regular physical activity, whether high-intensity or low-intensity exercises, helps you stay fit, both physically and mentally.

According to doctors, regular exercise (at least 30 to 45 minutes each day) has many biological effects on the body, some of which have even been proposed to explain associations with specific cancers, such as reducing levels of sex hormones such as estrogen, which reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer.

Being active also helps you maintain your weight, which is a major factor in cancer and other diseases. Exercise keeps the immune system strong and reduces inflammation, one of the markers of cancer.

quit smoking

Doctors advise those who smoke to quit and others to never start to greatly reduce the chances of cancer. According to studies, quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing at least 12 types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, bladder, esophagus and cervix.

Smoking increases inflammation, which causes cancer cells to thrive.

Get regular screenings

Doctors say cancer screening helps prevent this terrible disease by detecting changes in the body that would turn into cancer if left untreated. Cancer screening tests help detect cancer in its early stages, before it has symptoms, when it is easier to treat.

According to studies, many cancers show no signs or symptoms in the early stages, so it is important to detect the disease before it spreads, when it is easier to treat.

Stay up to date on vaccines

Protecting yourself against certain viral infections can help protect against cancer.

According to experts, the human papillomavirus or HPV, an extremely common sexually transmitted infection, can cause cervical cancer in women. The HPV vaccine is available for both boys and girls ages 9 and up. It helps protect against 90 percent of cancer caused by HPV.

Similarly, hepatitis B is a dangerous liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, for which a vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent infection.