Staying Healthy
What you can do
There are some risk factors you can control and others that you cannot.
Making changes in the way you live, such as quitting smoking, staying active,
and eating more fruits and vegetables, may lower your chances of getting certain
cancers. Even small changes can make a difference. Make a plan to take better
care of yourself. Here are some actions you can take:
- Talk to your doctor about cancer screening tests
You can get cancer screening tests for many types of cancer.
Screening tests for colon, breast, and cervical cancer have proven to be very
effective.
Screening
tests may help find cancer early, when there is the best chance for a cure.
Talk to your doctor about which screening tests he or she recommends. To
learn more about screening for cancers, click
here.
- Know your family health history
Some cancers can run in families. Knowing your family health history
will help you and your doctors make decisions about your lifestyle habits
and your health care. To learn more about what scientists know about genetics
and cancer, click
here.
- Quit smoking
Quitting smoking is the most effective thing you can do to reduce
your risk of disease. Smokers who quit live longer than those who continue
to smoke. In addition, the earlier smokers quit, the greater the health benefit.
For more information about ways to help you quit smoking, click
here.
- Stay active
Getting regular physical activity has been linked to a lower risk
of breast and colon cancer. Experts suggest that you try to be moderately
active for at least 30 minutes for five or more days per week, or vigorously
active for at least 20 minutes for three or more days per week. For more
information about physical activity and cancer, click
here.
- Stay at a healthy weight
Staying active and eating a low fat diet can help you maintain a
healthy weight. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight because
being overweight and obese are risk factors for cancer and other conditions
such as diabetes and heart disease. For more information about obesity as
a risk factor for cancer, click
here.
- Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day
Eating fruits and vegetables will increase your fiber intake and
may decrease your calories. For more information about eating enough fruits
and vegetables, click here. To check out
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, click
here.
- Limit the time you’re in the sun
Try to limit the time you spend in the sun during the hours from 11:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you must be in the sun during these hours, use a sunscreen
of 15 SPF or higher. Also wear protective clothing such as long pants, shirts
with long sleeves, a hat, and sunglasses. For more information about skin cancer
prevention, click
here.