Although some cancers are caused by genetics, research shows that up to half of all cases are caused by behavioral risk factors, which means they are preventable.
Doctors recommend common lifestyle changes to prevent cancer, such as quitting smoking, eating nutritious foods, wearing sunscreen, and limiting exposure to carcinogens, but the risks The means to alleviate this may vary from person to person.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Brigham have outlined four specific, research-backed strategies to reduce risk.
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1. Always perform preventive testing
Research shows that procrastination is one of the main reasons people miss cancer screenings.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Brigham have outlined four specific, research-backed strategies to reduce risk. (St. Petersburg)
For example, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Black people in the United States, yet many do not receive the recommended tests.
A study by Dr. Adjoa Anyane Yeboah, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), found that the main reasons for skipping testing were “self-reported procrastination” and “financial concerns, COVID-19 infection,” etc. It was found that the cause was “concern about the disease and fear of infection.” Both for testing and bowel preparation. ”
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“An important takeaway from this study is that all health care providers should regularly discuss colorectal cancer screening with all their patients, because early detection through screening saves lives,” Anyane said. Yeboah told Fox News Digital.
“To reduce the risk of cancer, everyone should get tested starting at age 45 and discuss their family history with their loved ones to determine whether they need to be tested earlier.”
Screening guidelines for other types of cancer are available on the American Cancer Society website. (St. Petersburg)
“Colorectal cancer is preventable through screening, and screening truly saves lives.”
Screening guidelines for other types of cancer are available on the American Cancer Society website.
2. Improve your sleep health
Insufficient or poor quality sleep has been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer.
Dr. Heming Wang, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), led a research team that investigated the effect of insomnia on ovarian cancer risk.
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“Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in ovarian cancer patients,” Wang told Fox News Digital.
“Our study revealed that insomnia increases the risk of certain subtypes of ovarian cancer and is associated with poorer patient survival,” he continued.
Insufficient or poor quality sleep has been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer. (St. Petersburg)
“These findings highlight the importance of addressing insomnia in the prevention and management of ovarian cancer.”
Based on these findings, researchers say that seeking treatment for insomnia may help reduce the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer.
3. Know the risks and benefits of daily use of aspirin
Research shows that taking aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) regularly may reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer, but it can also cause dangerous side effects such as bleeding and inflammation. It may also cause.
According to MGH, “It is important to know whether you are likely to benefit from daily use of aspirin.”
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MGH’s Dr. Daniel Shikabi and Dr. Andrew Chan led the study investigating the association between aspirin and colon cancer risk.
“Our results show that people with less healthy lifestyles, including higher BMI, more smoking, more alcohol intake, less physical activity, and poorer diet, are at higher risk for colorectal cancer. “We suggested that the absolute benefit of aspirin use in reducing the risk of cancer was greater,” Shikavi said. he told FOX News Digital.
Research shows that taking aspirin regularly may reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer, but it can also have dangerous side effects. (St. Petersburg)
Researchers found that although people with healthier lifestyles had a lower overall risk of colon cancer, regular aspirin use did not have a similar protective effect for that group.
“This study is an important example of a more personalized approach to cancer prevention by targeting effective prevention strategies to populations most likely to benefit,” said Shikavi. .
4. Cut down on sugary drinks
Research shows that more than half of the U.S. population consumes sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) every day.
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An American Cancer Society (ACS) study found that men and women who drank two or more SSBs a day had a 5% higher risk of death from obesity-related cancers.
“Despite their sweet taste, sugary drinks pose significant health risks,” Dr. Longan Zhao, a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Fox News Digital.
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“Researchers have already linked this drink to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.”
Professor Zhao recently led a study investigating the association between sugary drinks and liver cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Research has found that men and women who drink two or more sugary drinks a day have a 5% higher risk of dying from obesity-related cancers. (St. Petersburg)
“The current study, using data from the Women’s Health Initiative Prospective Cohort, shows that postmenopausal women who drink one or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to develop liver cancer than women who drink less. , we found a higher risk of death from chronic liver disease than drinking three or fewer sugary drinks a month,” he said.
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“If a causal link between sugary drinks and liver disease is established, it would have far-reaching implications for global public health efforts.”
