Since 2000, 4 February has been World Cancer Day, an initiative designed to raise public awareness and mobilise people to achieve better prevention and control.

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 40% of the cases of cancer diagnosed every year could be prevented.

We are talking about diseases like lung cancer, which would be far less prevalent if people quit smoking and skin cancer, which is prevented by using sun protection products to protect us from the sun.

Other types of cancer are more difficult to prevent, because they are not caused human action. Genetic components and underlying disease can make a person more likely to develop a malignant tumour. In many cases, early detection could prevent thousands of deaths every year.

Healthcare professionals recommend having regular check ups as the first step for eliminating the cancer or containing the damage. Victims of breast, uterine, prostate and  colon cancer have a far better prognosis when these are detected in the early stages.

What can be done to prevent cancer?

A third or more cases of cancer are preventable if we change our habits and customs and adopt a more sensible, healthier lifestyle, staying fit to put us in the best position to face risky situations.

• Stop smoking. Smoking causes more deaths than anything else. Get some professional help if you can’t go it alone. There is group therapy and treatments that will help you to quite if you are determined.
• Watch your alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol increases your likelihood of suffering from mouth, oesophageal, stomach, laryngeal, or pharyngeal cancer, not to mention liver cancer. Drink in moderation and use your common sense.
• Protect your skin from the sun. It might seem obvious, but every year, when spring comes around, we need to remember the importance of using creams with a SPF before we expose our skin to the sun. Although the sun does have a lot of benefits, it can also cause great damage to the skin.
• Sedentary lifestyle This is almost more dangerous than being overweight. Lack of activity makes you vulnerable to infection, reduces your lung capacity and is detrimental to the circulation.
• Obesity and overweight This is often linked to lack of activity. Maintaining a healthy weight and good eating habits can protect from some types of cancer, such as colo-rectal and pancreatic cancer, as well as preventing heart and kidney disease.
• Environmental pollution, exposure to radiation and toxic substances. Governments around the world and large companies are becoming increasingly aware of the need to reduce contaminating gases and to take measures to improve occupational health and safety. The result is that tumours caused by these causes have decreased considerably in the last decade, although there is still a long way to go to reduce the risk and to improve workers’ quality of life as well as to make our planet safer and cleaner.

Be aware and take better care of yourself!

This post is also available in: Spanish