Cancer Education Blog

6 Ways to Help Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

Written by Virginia Oncology Associates | Jul 9, 2020 7:54:00 PM

Even though the medical field has made tremendous progress, there is still much to discover about cancer. However, we do know that there are several biological and environmental factors that can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease.

6 Ways to Help Reduce Your Cancer Risks:

  1. Do not use tobacco of any kind.
    Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and chewing tobacco can lead to cancer of the mouth or throat.

  2. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
    Foods from other plant sources such as whole grains and beans have many beneficial qualities as well.
     
  3. Eat light, lean foods.
    High-fat diets may increase your risk of cancer.
     
  4. Stay active and maintain a healthy weight.
    Obesity may be a risk factor for certain types of cancer.
     
  5. Protect yourself from the sun.
    Sun exposure is the most common cause of skin cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer and also one of the most preventable.
     
  6. Follow the recommended guidelines for regular cancer screening and self-examinations, which increase your chances of discovering cancer early.
    Screening should include your skin, mouth, colon and rectum. Men should also include prostate and testes screenings. Cervical and breast cancer screenings should be included for women.

Additional Cancer Prevention Information

More information regarding cancer risks and prevention can be found on our website for the following diseases: