Daily Decisions, Lasting Effects: Impacting Your Cancer Risk – World Cancer Day 2024

(Picture credit: World Cancer Day 2024, Union for International Cancer Control)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), embracing specific changes in your daily routine and adopting evidence-based prevention strategies can help steer clear of approximately 30% to 50% of cancer-related deaths. As we approach this year's World Cancer Day, we decided to list some of the ways you can impact your cancer risk through everyday decisions. 

1 Maintaining a healthy weight & being physically active

Several prevalent cancers, such as breast, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, gallbladder, uterine, pancreatic, and liver cancer, have been associated with obesity. Obesity not only heightens the likelihood of dying of cancer but may also impact treatment decisions. Approximately 4–8% of all cancer cases are attributed to obesity. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight has an effect on your risk of developing cancer. 

By making physical activity a part of your everyday routine, you can help reduce your individual cancer risk. Studies suggest that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer, including for example bladder, breast and colon cancer. Physical activity can include things from walking, running or swimming to doing household chores or dancing. The most important thing is that your muscles are moving and that you are not only sitting still. 

2 Reducing tobacco & alcohol use

Tobacco use has been linked to at least 15 different cancers from oral cancer to lung, stomach, bowel, liver and ovarian cancer, as well as some types of leukemia. Quitting tobacco use at any point in your life can make a big difference by reducing your risk of developing cancer and by improving your quality of life. 

Alcohol is another substance with a strong proven scientific link to several types of cancer. Research suggests that your risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer increases with the quantity of alcohol consumed, especially when consumed regularly over an extended period of time. Making sure you drink alcohol in moderation can help you lower your cancer risk. 

3 Practicing sun safety

A large portion of skin cancer cases are related to indoor tanning. Avoiding tanning beds, staying under the shade, covering up your skin and avoiding prolonged periods of exposure to the sun are some ways to help protect yourself. Practicing sun safety is especially important in the places in the world where there is a lot of strong UV-radiation for long periods throughout the year. 

4 Taking care of your mental health

Stress, although not directly linked to increased cancer risk, can indirectly impact your risk of developing cancer. People under chronic stress may become less active physically, consume more alcohol, smoke more tobacco, or eat more unhealthy foods. So when it comes to minimizing your risk of developing cancer, taking care of your mental health is also very important. 

5 Raising awareness & going in for regular health check-ups

Not all cancer can be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices because genetics also play a part in the risk of developing cancer during your lifetime. For example, prostate cancer  is the most heritable cancer and is in large part driven by genetic factors. The undeniable significance of genetics in cancer risk is one of the reasons why education and raising awareness about early detection and learning your individual cancer risk is so important. 

When you know your family background and individual cancer risk, you can make informed decisions about whether you could benefit from regular health check-ups and cancer screening. For example, men whose father, grandfather or uncle have had prostate cancer are much more likely to develop it as well. For them, getting their PSA-level and prostate checked regularly after they reach the age of 50 years old might be advisable. Women who have a family history of breast cancer should regularly examine their breasts to keep track of any possible changes. Knowing your family’s cancer background can make a real difference. 

In this blog post we only listed a few of the easy things you can do in your life to try to reduce your chances of getting cancer. But even small choices can have a big impact in the future. Read more about World Cancer Day and how you can make a difference on the World Cancer Day website https://www.worldcancerday.org/

Read more about what Aqsens Health is doing to improve cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment monitoring here: https://www.aqsens.com/search?q=cancer&f_collectionId=62286a018ca46c228a68029a

Sources:
National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/

World Cancer Day: https://www.worldcancerday.org/prevention-and-risk-reduction

World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_2