Preventative care: what to do now!
The hallmarks of preventative care for cancer are simple: lifestyle, screening and awareness of your body.
Life Style:
Reduce your exposure to carcinogens, live an active, healthy lifestyle, and undergo routine preventative screening. Carcinogens are found in food and the environment, but also alcohol and tobacco. Simply applying suncreen and avoiding sun exposure reduces your risk of skin cancers. Finally, diets such as the MIND diet or Mediterranean diet are low in pro-inflammatory ingredient and processed food that have been linked to higher rates of cancers.
Screening:
There are established guidelines for screening tests, and these vary depending on age, race and family history. Below are links to evidence based screening guidelines in the US —although different organization may have different guidelines we refer to the United States Preventive Taskforce (USPTF).
i. Links to USPTF 1. A and B Recommendations | United States Preventive Services Taskforce (uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org)
BRCA screening for people with a family history of breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer
ii. Breast cancer screening
iii. Colorectal cancer
iv: Lung cancer
v. Cervical cancer
vi Skin cancer (counseling only)
Self Examination:
Know yourself! Check your body out. Any lumps or bumps should be brought to the attention of your provider.
1. Breast
2. Testicle
3. Skin
The Importance of Insurance
Take charge of your health. Ease your mind with a body scan looking for any abnormalities in the brain, chest, abdomen and pelvis areas. For certain cancers, early detection may give a greater chance of survival.
Empowering Your Health Decisions
Healthy life style choices can help lower your chances of certain diseases. Certain diet modifications and exercise help decrease your risk of developing cancer.
