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Reduce Your Risk for Cancer
Although many cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes, there are no known risk factors for some cancers. For many of these, early detection is the best defense.
For information on understanding your cancer risk, steps to reduce your risk, tools to manage your risk and more, visit: http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov
Also visit the links below for additional specific information on reducing your risk for developing cancer.
Risk factors are things that increase your chance of developing cancer. Many risk factors are beyond your control, including age and family history. But, there are things you can do. The good news is that more than half of all cancers could be prevented by:
- not using tobacco products
- maintaining a healthy weight
- eating nutritious foods
- being physically active
- and avoiding too much sun.
Although many cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes, there are no known risk factors for some cancers. For many of these, early detection is the best defense.
Visit the links below for specific information on reducing your risk for developing cancer.
Don’t Use Tobacco Products
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in New Mexico and the United States. It causes 87% of all lung cancers and helps cause other cancers such as:
- esophageal
- bladder
- cervical
- kidney
- pancreatic
Each year, more than 2,000 New Mexicans die from smoking-related causes.
For more information or tips on how to quit using tobacco, visit these Web sites:
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Studies show that people who are overweight (a Body Mass Index [BMI]* of 25.0 - 29.9) or obese (a BMI of 30.0 or higher) are more likely to develop the following conditions:
- heart disease
- certain types of cancer
- type 2 diabetes
- stroke
- arthritis
- breathing problems
- depression
A study published in 2003 estimates that overweight/obesity could account for 20% of all deaths from cancer in women, and 14% of those in men. Among the cancer types with higher death rates for the overweight and obese population are:
- breast
- colorectal
- kidney
- liver
- prostate
- stomach
- uterine
For more information, visit these Web sites:
* Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of height and weight that can indicate the percentage of body fat. A BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 is considered normal weight. A BMI of 25.0 - 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30.0 or higher is considered obese. For more information, or to calculate your BMI, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website.
Practice Good Nutrition
Eating fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In addition, eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may offer protection from developing certain types of cancer.
For more information on how to eat a healthy diet, visit these Web sites:
Be Physically Active
Regular, moderate physical activity can make you healthier and reduce your risks of dying prematurely. Being physically active can also reduce your risk for developing colon cancer.
For more information on how physical activity can improve your health and life, visit these Web sites:
Be Safe in the Sun
Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can increase your risk for cancer. Getting one or more blistering sunburns as a child or teenager doubles a person’s risk of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
More than half of a person's lifetime skin damage from sun exposure occurs by the age of 18, so it is important to educate yourself, your children, and anyone who cares for children. To be safe:
- stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV radiation is strongest
- wear protective clothing - long sleeves and long pants are best
- wear a wide-brimmed hat that protects your face, ears, and the back of your neck
- use sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF*) of 15
- wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
For today’s UV radiation intensity, check the Daily UV Index.
For more information on how to be safe in the sun, visit these Web sites:
* SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a rating of how much a sunscreen protects against one type of UV radiation (UVB). If you normally get a sunburn after 10 minutes outside, using a sunscreen with SPF 15 would allow you to stay out approximately 150 minutes before burning. Choose a sunscreen that provides protection against both UVA and UVB radiation (called “broad-spectrum”) and has an SPF of at least 15. For more information on UV radiation, visit the Environmental Protection Agency Website.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is the word used to describe many different diseases in which cells grow and reproduce out of control.
Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. Normally, new ones are created to replace old cells that die. When something goes wrong with this process, cells may keep dividing and multiplying out of control, creating cancer.
Some cancers form solid tumors - masses of cells. Others - leukemia and lymphoma - form and circulate in the bloodstream and lymphatic system. Cells from solid tumors can spread from the initial site to other parts of the body and start new tumors. This process is called metastasis.
Cancer is most treatable when diagnosed before it metastasizes, when the disease is still localized in one area.
Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell where they start, such as lung, breast or skin.
In New Mexico and the United States, four types of cancer make up the majority of cancers diagnosed in adults. They are:
Overall, lung cancer kills more New Mexicans than any other type of cancer.
Skin cancer is a special concern in New Mexico, because overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause the disease. Cervical cancer is the 5th most common cancer diagnosed in Hispanic, American Indian and African American women in New Mexico.
Risk factors increase your chances of getting cancer. Many risk factors are beyond your control, such as your age and family history. There are things you can do. More than half of all cancers could be prevented by:
- not using tobacco products
- eating healthy foods and being physically active
- being physically active
- maintaining a healthy weight
- avoiding too much sun
For some cancers, there are no known risk factors. For many of these, early detection is the best defense. One method of early detection is screening, which identifies individuals with a disease, often before they have symptoms.
Treatments vary, depending on the type of cancer, if and how much it has metastasized (spread from where it started), its size and location, the patient's overall health, and other factors.
For more information about different types of cancer, prevention and risk reduction, screening and early detection, treatment, and quality of life issues, visit the National Cancer Institute’s Website. (English) (Spanish)
Contact us: 222-8613
Last updated on 10/29/2007 09:02 am.
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