Forget fad diets or avoiding food additives.
Experts say neither will do much good in the battle to prevent cancer, the nation's second leading cause of death. The disease is expected to claim the lives of 559,650 Americans this year, according to the American Cancer Society. A sobering statistic, no doubt. Still, the good news is that cancer-related deaths are decreasing annually at 2.1%, doubling the rate of years previous. Researchers attribute the decline to improved methods of detection, increased levels of screening and changes in lifestyle.
But while the list of such preventive measures can be overwhelming, there are very basic steps, including regular screenings and positive habits, that can both lead to a healthier body and minimize one's risk of cancer.. Vilma Cokkinides, program director for Risk Factor Surveillance at the American Cancer Society, suggests a simple approach. "Don't think of it as following guidelines," she says, "think of it as a lifestyle."
Screening And Detection
If you fear exams or postpone checkups for months, wait no longer to march over to the doctor's office and discuss cancer risks and detection techniques. Research has shown that screening drastically improves the chances of preventing cancer and cancer-related deaths, especially those due to colorectal, breast and cervical cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Regular screening begins at different points depending on age, gender, medical and family histories, and the type of cancer. Cokkinides recommends that adults discuss testing for breast, cervical, prostate, endometrium, colon and skin cancers with a physician. There are myriad screening techniques, so be inquisitive with a physician or specialist about which might elicit the clearest results.
Lifestyle Lessons
There are good habits, like regular checkups and screening, and bad ones, like smoking, drinking, eating poorly and exercising infrequently. To many cancer experts, the scourge of high-risk behavior is smoking, followed by obesity. Half of smokers will die from tobacco-related diseases, and tobacco use is responsible for 30% of all cancer-related deaths each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
The obesity epidemic similarly worries researchers.
"The underlying mechanisms implicating weight are very complex," says Cokkinides, "but it's thought that it has to do with fat and sugar metabolism, immune function, hormone levels and cell growth."
Obesity and being overweight have been linked to an increased risk for breast, colon, endometrium, esophagal, kidney and pancreatic cancers, among others. Roughly two-thirds of all Americans are considered overweight or obese.
In combating weight issues, Cokkinides says, people can also cultivate better eating and exercise habits, which have been shown to positively affect cancer risk. Instead of trying to find the next miracle food, consistently eat a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and minimize foods high in fat and refined sugar as well as consumption of red and processed meats and alcoholic beverages. Regular exercise -- at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week -- can also decrease the risk of developing certain cancers.
The Future of Prevention
Dr. William Nelson, a medical oncologist and the director of translational research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, envisions a future of "personalized medicine" in which current preventive measures are combined with cutting-edge technology to provide patients with precise indications of their risk factors.
This includes preventive drugs and genetic testing, which are both currently available to the public, but benefit a small fraction.
"Our tools for informing people about their risks," he says of preventive drugs and genetic testing, "have the promise to describe risk for a disease and risk for treatment side effects."
Those with high risk for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers should consult a physician about preventive drugs. Anu Chittenden, a genetic counselor at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends genetic counseling for those with a strong family history of cancer. Though the procedure is available for different cancers, it is largely known for detecting genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer. About 10% of women with breast cancer will have a gene mutation. Chittenden urges patients to first have a relative with the cancer tested to yield important genetic information, and to consult a genetic counselor trained to interpret the results.
Though Nelson anticipates that new technologies will have a profound impact on how cancer is diagnosed and treated, he still believes the best prevention is done daily.
"Cancer is giant risk-benefit analysis," he says. "Go after the broad lifestyle changes."
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