Health Insurance

Measures for Preventing Cancer

By Vikas Chandra Das
23 November 2022, 5:25 PM

One of the most life-threatening diseases in the world is cancer. Unfortunately, the likelihood of developing cancer has grown due to lifestyle changes. According to studies, there are more than 120 varieties of cancer, which can affect most of our body components.

Furthermore, the information you've heard regarding cancer prevention has probably been contradictory. There are instances where a certain cancer prevention recommendation is advised against based on data from another study. Cancer prevention knowledge is continually being developed. However, it is commonly known that your lifestyle choices affect your risk of developing cancer.

So, if you're trying to avoid cancer, rest assured that small lifestyle adjustments can have a big impact. Think about these cancer-preventive suggestions.

Maintain A Well-rounded Diet

While it won't guarantee you won't develop cancer, making wise decisions at the grocery store and during meals may reduce your risk. Consider these recommendations-

Consume a lot of fruits and veggies. Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods as the base of your diet, like whole grains and beans.

Maintain a balanced weight. Eat fewer high-calorie meals, such as refined sugars and animal-based fat, to become lighter and leaner.

If you choose to consume alcohol, do so cautiously. The quantity of alcohol you consume and the extent to which you've been a habitual drinker raise your risk of developing cancer, including breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver cancers.

Eat less processed meat. As per a report from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, eating a lot of processed meat may modestly increase your chance of developing some cancers.

Additionally, mixed nuts and extra-virgin olive oil may lower the incidence of breast cancer in women who follow a Mediterranean diet. Most foods that make up the Mediterranean diet are plant-based, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. The Mediterranean diet substitutes fish for red meat and healthy fats such as olive oil for butter.

Cut-off Tobacco

Any cigarette use puts you at risk of developing cancer. Smoking has been associated with many cancers, including kidney, bladder, mouth, throat, larynx, lung, pancreas, and cancers of the bladder and cervix. In addition, pancreatic and oral cancers have been connected to tobacco chewing. Even if you don't smoke, being around secondhand smoke may make lung cancer more likely.

Preventing tobacco use, or resolving to stop using it, is crucial to preventing cancer. Talk to your doctor regarding stop-smoking tools and other methods of quitting if you need assistance.

Protect Yourself from the Excessive Sun

One of the most prevalent cancers is skin cancer, which is also one of the most curable. Try the following advice:

Skip the noon sun. When the sun's rays are at their fiercest, between 10 and 4 p.m., avoid going out in the sun. When you're outside, try to spend as much time in the shade as possible. Also helpful are sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim. Cover any exposed skin. Wear clothing that is loosely fitted and covers maximum skin as possible. 

Don't cut corners on sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or frequently if you're swimming or excessive sweating. It is recommended to apply sunscreen liberally.

Be Physically Active and Keep Your Weight in Check

The risk of various cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney, may be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight. Physical exercise counts. Exercise on its own may reduce your chances of breast and colon cancer in addition to helping you manage your weight. 

Adults who engage in any level of physical activity benefit their health. But aim for at least 150 minutes of average aerobic activity or 75 minutes of intense activity per week to get significant health advantages. You can also combine strenuous and moderate activities. Incorporate at least 30 minutes of exercise in your daily schedule as a general rule; if you can do more, all the better.

Receive Consistent Medical Care

You can boost your chances of finding cancer early, when its treatment is most likely to be successful, by performing routine self-exams and screens for various malignancies, such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix, and breast. Find out from your doctor which cancer screening programme is best for you.

Get All the Necessary Vaccines

Protection from specific viral infections is a part of cancer prevention. Consult your doctor about immunisations for - 

Liver cancer risk can rise as a result of hepatitis B. Sexually active adults engaged with multiple partners, those who have STDs or use intravenous drugs, men who get sexual with men, and public safety or healthcare employees who might come into contact with contaminated blood or bodily fluids are among those who should get the hepatitis B vaccine.

Avoid Risks

Use a condom when having sex, and limit the number of sexual partners you have. The possibility of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection, such as HIV or HPV, increases with the number of sexual partners you have throughout your lifetime. Cancers of the lung, anus, and liver are more common in those with HIV or AIDS. The anus, penis, throat, vulva, and vaginal cancers may all be at increased risk due to HPV, most frequently linked to cervical cancer.

Sharing needles with those who use intravenous drugs increases the chance of contracting hepatitis B and C, which can raise the risk of liver cancer and HIV. You should seek professional assistance if you are worried about drug abuse or addiction.

Conclusion

Making healthy decisions will reduce your risk of developing many common types of cancer. For example, screening tests can detect some cancers early when treatment is most effective. Getting vaccinated also can assist in the prevention of many cancers.

Nobody wants to have cancer of any kind. But hoping we won't experience it is not a decent solution. So, in addition to taking measures to prevent it, you can maintain your financial readiness for cancer treatment with cancer insurance coverage. Today, from the comfort of your home, you may easily purchase one of the top cancer health insurance plans online.

FAQs
1. Can one prevent cancer?

Making healthy decisions like maintaining a healthy weight, abstaining from tobacco use, consuming alcohol in moderation, and taking care of your skin can lower your risk of developing cancer.

2. What foods are cancer-preventive?

Tomatoes, berries, broccoli, walnuts, grapes, and other fruits, vegetables, and nuts are typically at the top of the list. Most common foods that lower the risk of cancer are plant-based.

3. Why does cancer affect so many people?

Cancer risk factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, eating poorly, having a physically inactive lifestyle, and air pollution. Cancer risk factors can also include some chronic infections. Low and middle-income nations are particularly affected by this.

4. What factors raise cancer risk?

Genetics, age, weight, and exposure to toxins can increase cancer risk.

5. Does insurance cover cancer?

In India, most standard health insurance policies don’t include coverage for hospitalisation costs connected to cancer treatment. However, a rider or a cancer-specific health insurance policy can be opted to meet the purpose.

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