You can take steps not only to reduce your risk of cancer, but also to protect against illness and other potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Please share this information with your doctor so you can make informed decisions about reducing your individual risk factors and about when to begin cancer screenings.

Steps to reduce your risk of cancer and maintain overall wellness

1. Don't smoke or chew tobacco. Tobacco, including secondhand smoke, increases cancer risk and can cause other long-term health complications.
2. Maintain a healthy body weight and get regular physical activity.
3. Reduce consumption of high-fat, sugary, and highly processed foods and drinks.
4. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Reduce consumption of red meat and meat that is cured or smoked.
5. Limit your sun exposure. Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, and wear protective clothing or seek shade when outdoors.
6. Limit alcohol consumption. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting intake to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women, and women at high risk of breast cancer may want to consider not drinking any alcohol.
7. If you work with or near harmful chemicals, follow protective measures carefully.
8. Protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, females age 9–26 have the option to get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus; these vaccinations can help prevent cervical cancer.
9. Get to know your family health history, and share any illness patterns or concerns you have with your doctor.
10. Perform skin, breast, and testicular self-exams that can aid in the early detection of these cancers.
11. Find stress-reducing activities you enjoy, such as meditation, yoga, reading, or exercising. Reduced stress aids in overall wellness and can improve immune system function.

Where to turn with your questions and concerns

 

• Visit the Cancer Learning Center, where you can browse the library, do Internet research, or talk with a cancer information specialist.
• Call Huntsman Cancer Information Service at (801) 581-6365 (in Salt Lake) or toll free at (888) 424-2100 to talk with a cancer information specialist.
• Visit the Huntsman Online Patient Education Guide, www.hopeguide.org, to locate more information.

The information provided on this website does not replace individual discussion with and medical advice provided by members of your health-care team. This information is meant to support, not replace, communication with your health-care provider.