Healthy Living
Can the risk of cancer be reduced?
There are many reasons why normal cells may turn to cancer cells - and some of these reasons you can do nothing about. But doctors agree there are lots of things you can do to live more healthily and cut your cancer risk...
Tobacco definitely causes cancer. Smoking (especially cigarettes) is a well-known cause of lung cancer. Smoke can also get into other body organs; there is a link between smoking and cancer of the mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx, oesophagus (gullet), stomach, bladder, kidney, pancreas, liver and cervix.
Chewing tobacco and using snuff are also dangerous. They can cause cancers of the mouth and face
For advice on giving up smoking, try NHS Direct Smoking (quitting) or the UK charity QUIT
People who eat a lot of fat and meat - especially red meat - seem more likely to get certain cancers (such as bowel cancer), so cutting down on these foods makes good sense. We also believe that eating more fruit and vegetables helps to protect against cancer.
Some types of cancer are more common in heavy drinkers. These include cancers of the liver, throat, oesophagus (gullet) and mouth. People who smoke and drink a lot are even more at risk.
Being very underweight or overweight increases your cancer risk. A sensible diet and some exercise will help to keep you at the right weight.
Most skin cancers are caused by being out in the sun (or on a sunbed) too much. You can protect yourself by using a high factor suncream and by covering yourself up when the sun is strong. Detecting skin cancer (Cancer Research UK)
If you are exposed to certain substances or chemicals (for example asbestos, benzidene, arsenic) you are more likely to get cancer. Protect yourself by following all the health and safety rules.
For example, you can examine your breasts regularly for lumps or thickening, and for puckering skin and other changes.
Men can check their testicles for lumps. Changes like these may be early signs of cancer. The sooner a cancer is found, the better the chance of a cure.
If you're a woman you should have regular cervical sample tests. All women aged 25 -64 can have a free test every 3-5 years. Three years between the ages of 25 and 49 and every five years between the ages of 50 - 64.
Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited for a mammogram (breast x ray) through the national breast screening programme.
The Bowel cancer screening programme is also part of national screening and offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69. People over 70 can request a screening kit by calling a freephone helpline when the programme reaches their area.
Details of screening programmes can be found in Screening Services.