Managing your risk

There are many ways to manage your risk of developing some cancers, many of which are simple lifestyle changes that you can start making today.

Even though you can’t prevent every type of cancer, the risk of developing some cancers can be lowered by avoiding certain risk factors.

Prevention measures

Dietary influences

Scientists have been studying the links between diet/nutrition and cancer risk for a long time now. While there are not many definitive results showing that any particular food directly causes (or protects against) cancer, there’s a lot of information out there about what foods are associated with greater or less cancer risk. We also know that diet impacts our bodyweight, and that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things we can do to minimise our cancer risk.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Two types of Hepatitis carry an increased cancer risk; Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV). This is because long-term (chronic) infection with either of these types causes liver damage and can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Hepatitis infection is the most common risk factor worldwide for developing liver cancer – but there are steps you can take to prevent hepatitis infection, or protect yourself from increased risk of liver cancer if you do have hepatitis.

HIV

HIV is the virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV itself doesn’t cause cancer, but when someone is infected with HIV their immune system is weakened, and this means the body is less capable of fighting off other infections that can cause cancer. People infected with HIV have increased risks of a number of cancers, especially Kaposi sarcoma, lymphomas (including both non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin disease), and cancers of the cervix, anus, lung, liver, and throat.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV is a viral infection, and one of the most common and easily transmitted STIs across South Africa. There are over 100 different types of HPV, and 14 of them have been found to be ‘high-risk’ (or oncogenic), meaning they are known to lead to cancer in both men and women. In fact, these high-risk HPVs cause 5% of all cancers globally, so understanding the risks of HPV and how to best protect yourself against its associated cancer risk is really important for your health.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is considered among experts to be one of the biggest and most significant preventable risk factors for cancer around the world. Studies show that up to 50% of all cancer deaths and diagnoses could be prevented with healhtier lifestyle choices, and limiting alcohol consumption plays a huge part in that. Alcohol use has been linked with several types of cancer, and the more alcohol you consume the greater your risk.

Physical activity

Physical activity means moving your body, whether with low intensity movement like walking or gentle yoga, or more strenuous aerobic exercise. The evidence is strong – people who have higher levels of physical activity are also less likely to get a number of different cancers, including bladder, breast, colon, esophegal, kidney and stomach. By incorporating even low intensity exercise into your life on a regular basis, you are making a decision that could dramatically lower your likelihood of developing cancer.

Smoking and tobacco

It’s absolutely certain that tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer diagnoses and deaths. Not only people who use tobacco products, but even those who are exposed to second hand smoke are at greater risk of suffering the DNA damage caused by tobacco smoke. This damage isn’t limited to smoking either; even chewing tobacco or using snuff causes harm and puts users at increased risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and pancreas.

You and your skin

Exposing the skin to ultraviolet radiation (that can be from the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths) damages the skin, causing not only early aging but also damage that can eventually lead to skin cancer. UV damage to the skin affects people of all ages and skin tones, and we should all limit the amount of time we spend in the sun, take care to use sunscreen, and avoid sources of strong UV radiation like tanning beds.