This year the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day, on February 4, with the slogan “Close the care gap“. One-third to one-half of cancer cases could be prevented by reducing the prevalence of known risk factors.
The European Code Against Cancer focuses on actions that individual citizens can take to help prevent cancer. Successful cancer prevention requires these individual actions to be supported by governmental policies and actions.
Check out 12 Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk
- Do not smoke. Do not use any form of tobacco.
2. Make your home smoke-free. Support smoke-free policies in your workplace.
3. Take action to be healthy body weight.
4. Be physically active in everyday life. Limit the time you spend sitting.
5. Have a healthy diet:
- Eat plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables, and fruits.
- Limit high-calorie foods (foods high in sugar or fat) and avoid sugary drinks.
- Avoid processed meat; limit red meat and foods high in salt.
6. If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention.
7. Avoid too much sun, especially for children. Use sun protection. Do not use sunbeds.
8. In the workplace, protect yourself against cancer-causing substances by following health and safety instructions.
9. Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home.
Take action to reduce high radon levels.
10. For women:
- Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s cancer risk. If you can, breastfeed your baby.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of certain cancers.
- Limit the use of HRT.
11. Ensure your children take part in vaccination programs for:
- Hepatitis B (for newborns)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) (for girls).
12. Take part in organised cancer screening programs for:
- Bowel cancer (men and women)
- Breast cancer (women)
- Cervical cancer (women).