Best Ways To Lower Risk Of Cancer

Maintain A Healthy Weight

A way for an individual to lower their risk of cancer is to maintain a healthy weight or body mass index. Obese individuals have a greater risk of developing several types of cancers than the risk of individuals who are of a healthy weight. These cancers include those of the breast, endometrium, esophagus, colon, rectum, kidney, gallbladder, liver, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, ovaries, prostate, and pancreas. Approximately one-third of all deaths that occur due to cancer are associated with obesity and diet.

An increase in fat deposits around an individual's midsection is also closely correlated with an increased risk of developing cancer. While the mechanisms behind this increased risk of cancer are not clear, they are known to be associated with inflammation, the function of the immune system, hormone levels, activity of insulin-like growth factor-1, and activity of sex hormone-binding globulin. An individual who has a body mass index in the overweight or obese category should reduce their intake of daily calories and burn more calories through regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Wear Sunscreen And Appropriate Clothing

An individual who wears sunscreen and appropriate clothing can lower their risk of developing cancer. Repeated skin exposure to sunlight and its ultraviolet radiation increases an individual's risk of developing deadly melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Around two percent of all deaths from cancer are associated with excessive exposure to the sun. An individual can reduce their risk of developing cancer if they limit the time spent in the sun between the daytime hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Individuals must use a minimum of SPF 50 water-resistant sunscreen on all areas of the body not protected by proper clothing when going out in the sun during the daylight hours. Sunscreen should be reapplied every hour to unprotected areas of the skin. Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses help protect the skin and eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays, as melanoma can also develop in the eyes. Sunscreen and protective clothing should be used even on days when it is cloudy, as the clouds do not always influence the ultraviolet index.