Cancer Prevention Month: Cancer risk, prevention and screening
s?Paradigm Diagnostic Informatics
Service, Integrity, and Innovation
The American Cancer Society makes annual estimates of the number of new cancer cases and cancer-related deaths in the country. In 2023,?more than 1 million new cancer cases and more than 600,000 cancer deaths?are projected to occur in the United States.
A person's lifetime chance of having cancer and dying from it can be significantly decreased by abstaining from tobacco products, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, being physically active, and eating a good diet. The risk of acquiring diabetes and heart disease is also lowered by the same habits.
The most significant cancer risk factors that can be adjusted for the majority of Americans who do not use tobacco are body weight, food, and physical activity. At least 18% of all cancer diagnosed in the US are preventable and linked to obesity, physical inactivity, binge drinking, and/or poor nutrition.
It's also critical to be aware of any hereditary risks for specific cancer kinds as well as your family's medical history. You may be at a higher risk of having breast, ovarian, uterine, or colorectal cancer if your family has a history of these diseases. The first step to determining whether you may have a higher cancer risk is to consult your doctor about the health history of your family. It might help you and your doctor in deciding what tests, when to start, and how frequently you should be screened for cancer.
领英推荐
Additionally, getting regular check-ups to detect early signs of cancer can help to reduce its prevalence. Vaccines for certain types of cancers are also available which can help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is prevented with the vaccine (HPV). Some cancers may be brought on by this virus if it stays in the body for an extended period of time. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HPV vaccines to prevent genital warts, anal cancer, and cervical cancers. Also, the hepatitis B vaccine can reduce the chance of developing liver cancer; as the FDA recognized the hepatitis B vaccination as the first "anti-cancer" vaccine because it protects against liver cancer brought on by the hepatitis B virus by avoiding chronic hepatitis B infections.
By being aware and taking proactive steps to prevent cancer, you may successfully defend yourself and those close to you against this fatal disease.