In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death but luckily here are a few things you can do to lower your risk:
- Quit smoking. One of the number one causes of lung cancer is caused by cigarette smoking; however, smoking is also linked to cancer in many other parts of the body as well. By quitting today, you can lower your risk.
- Stay fit. There are at least 13 types of cancer linked to obesity in adults and may even be a main cause for cancer in teenagers and children. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise daily to help lower your risk.
- Check family history. If cancer runs in your family, this greatly increases your odds of getting cancer. For instance, breast cancer and ovarian cancer are two of the most common cancers passed from generation to generation for women. Knowing your family history and consulting with your doctor are two important in the prevention of cancer.
So if you smoke, are overweight or have a family history with cancer, don’t skip your yearly check-up at the doctor because many cancers, if caught early enough, can be preventable.