Experts estimate that 30 to 50 per cent of all cancers are preventable. Besides, prevention is by far the most cost-effective strategy for long-term cancer control. The World Health Organization (WHO) interacts with all of the member countries to effectively strengthen national programmes and policies, improve awareness, and reduce people’s exposure to risk factors of various cancers. The WHO also strives to ensure that people are empowered to adopt healthy lifestyles. If you want more information, it is a good idea to visit the best cancer hospital in Chennai and consult with a corresponding specialist.

It is now an accepted fact that the chances of developing cancer are impacted by your lifestyle choices. That’s why WHO has come up with a global action plan for the control and prevention of cancer and non-communicable diseases, or NCDs. The road map provided by this plan to lessen premature mortality from NCDs target various risk factors listed below. So, if your goal is to prevent cancer, simple lifestyle changes often make a big difference. Having said that, what you could do to prevent cancer is:

Stop Using Tobacco

Avoiding the use of tobacco in any form decreases the risk of cancer. Smoking is linked to different types of cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, lung, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and cervix. If you have been diagnosed with any kidney condition, you must talk to the best kidney doctor in Chennai. Chewing tobacco can also cause pancreatic and oral cavity cancers. According to researchers, even exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, quitting smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are important for the prevention of cancer.

Opt For A Healthy Diet

Making healthy choices at grocery stores and at mealtimes helps reduce your cancer risk. Here are some guidelines for you:

• Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Opt for a fruit and vegetable-based diet. You can include other foods from plant sources, such as beans and whole grains.
• Maintain healthy body weight. Eat leaner and lighter by reducing the quantity of high-calorie foods such as refined sugars and animal fats.
• It is best to avoid consuming alcohol. If at all you choose to consume alcohol, take care to use it in moderation only. Depending on the quantity of alcohol consumed and how long you have been consuming it, the risk of cancers of the colon, lung, breast, kidney, and liver increases.
• Limit your consumption of processed meats. The risk of some types of cancer increases with the consumption of processed meat in large amounts.

Furthermore, it has been observed that women who eat a Mediterranean diet, which includes mixed nuts and extra-virgin olive oil, have a lower risk of suffering from breast cancer. This is because the Mediterranean diet mainly recommends the consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Followers of the Mediterranean diet often opt for healthy fats: olive oil to butter and fish to red meat.

Healthy Body Weight And Physical Activity:

If you ensure that your body weight remains within a healthy range, you can lower the risk of breast, lung, colon, prostate, and kidney cancers. Physical activity is also important because it helps you maintain your weight and also lowers your risk of colon and breast cancer. Participating in 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week provides significant health benefits. The more you do, the better for you.

Protect Yourself From Uv Rays

Protecting yourself from the sun’s UV rays helps you to reduce the chances of developing skin cancer. Here are some tips:

Avoid sun exposure from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the rays are strong. If you happen to be outdoors during this time, avoid direct exposure to the sun’s rays as much as possible. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses will be of great help.

It is also a good idea to wear a loose-fitting dress that is made out of a tightly woven fabric so that your skin doesn’t get exposed to the sun’s rays. Opt for bright or dark-coloured dresses, which are capable of reflecting more UV radiation compared to pastels and bleached cotton.

Making use of broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF rating of 30 or more), even in cloudy conditions, contributes to reducing your skin cancer risk. You can generously apply sunscreen and reapply it once every two hours. Avoid using sunscreen more often if you are perspiring or swimming.

Get Vaccinated:

Protecting yourself against certain viral infections is also a cancer prevention strategy. However, you must consult with your doctor as regards vaccinations against:

• Hepatitis B as an infection tends to increase the risk of the development of liver cancer.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) as an infection can cause cancers of the cervix, other genital organs, and head and neck squamous cell cancers.

Do Not Get Involved In Risky Behaviour:

Another way of preventing the incidence of certain cancers is by avoiding risky behaviours. This is because it reduces the chances of infections. A couple of tips in this regard are not to share the same needles.

Get Cancer-Screening Tests Done At Regular Intervals

Doing self-exams and getting screening tests done for skin, cervix, colon, and breast cancer increases the chances of an early diagnosis. In such a situation, treatment becomes more effective and leads to a better prognosis. You can ask the doctor you consult with to advise you on a cancer screening schedule that is best suited for you.

Sugam Hospital

Sugam Hospital’s oncology department offers comprehensive cancer care services with the help of a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors, consisting of medical and surgical oncologists and radiologists. As a team, they decide the best line of effective treatment for each patient. Counselling and additional support are also provided as part of the holistic treatment offered at Sugam. This helps patients cope with the emotional and physical stress they go through during the treatment.

Services offered at the oncology department include conventional and high-dose chemotherapy, cancer surgery, treatment of blood-related cancers, palliative care, cancer treatment for children, and preventive cancer screening. Furthermore, Sugam has the best in-house blood bank in Chennai.