While most of us know about cancer and how it functions within the body, very few of are aware about some of the facts that could help us prevent, detect, and overcome the disease. If you or a family member has recently been diagnosed with some form of this illness or if you are just curious about it in general, here are five cancer facts that you need to know. If you’re looking for more information, locate a doctor or someone who has been through several accredited online degree programs for more information!
- A Lot of Cancers Are Preventable (and Are Mostly Caused By Tobacco)
Although we tend to think of cancer as a diagnosis that spells disaster, experts say that the majority of cancers are preventable. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 30 to 50 percent of cancers and cancer cases could be prevented if the right course of actions are taken, such as early cancer screenings and conscientious lifestyle choices.
Even more staggering than that statistic is the fact that a lot of cancer and cancer-related deaths are caused by tobacco. In addition to these statistics, over 90 percent of all existing lung cancer cases have been caused by smoking. Tobacco itself has been linked to causing around 22 percent of all cancer-related deaths around the world, and it has also been estimated that approximately 30 percent of most cancers could have been prevented through lifestyle changes as simple as quitting smoking.
While cutting tobacco out from your life completely will not guarantee that you will avoid other kinds of cancer, it will certainly drastically reduce the risk of getting cancer and improve your overall health as well.
- What You Eat Plays a Big Role in Your Risk of Developing Cancer
Diet plays a role in every aspect of your health. It affects your energy levels, your weight, and your mental health. However, your diet also plays a role in whether or not you are at greater risk for developing cancer down the road.
One fact that you may be unaware of is that most pre-prepared foods such as meats like hot dogs and bacon contain a certain chemical known as nitrate, which is commonly advertised as potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. These preservative chemicals, when heated and consumed, will react in your body and transform the nitrate chemicals into nitrites. These nitrites are known carcinogens and increase your risk for cancer.
Not only are foods themselves known to cause cancer but so are certain preparation methods. For example, charbroiling your meat allows for carcinogens to develop when certain chemicals within the fat and juices of the meat come into direct contact with flames or are exposed at high temperatures. Although this might be a tasty way to prepare your meat, it puts you at greater risk of cancer.
To make sure that you reduce your risk of developing cancer, pay close attention to what you eat and how you prepare.
- A Lack of Sleep Could Lead to Colon Cancer
Sleep deprivation has long been linked to other health problems such as obesity and heart disease; however, it was also recently revealed that a lack of sleep can also increase the possibility that you might begin to develop the precursors that lead to colon cancer. Look up facts about colon cancer, and you will see!
In one study conducted by researchers from both the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University Hospitals Case Medical Center discovered that people who were only getting six hours of sleep or less per night had a 50 percent increase in developing the first symptoms that lead to colon cancer.
Out of the 1,240 patients who participated in the study, 338 of those who reported that they were getting six hours of sleep or less were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas, which are benign tumors that develop on the inside of the colon. These tumors can become malignant if left untreated. It is not known why this occurs in patients with less sleep, but it is researchers hypothesize that it could be due to a lack of melatonin or insulin resistance.
No matter what the cause, it is important that you get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to avoid this cancer-causing factor.
- Most Cancers Are Not Hereditary (But Family Habits May Increase Your Risk)
Although you may hear experts say that cancer is passed down in the family, the truth is that very few cancers are actually hereditary. In fact, it is estimated that only 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are caused by genetic mutations that have been passed down through the family.
That being said, the reason that many families will experience similar cancer diagnoses from generation to generation is that bad habits are usually learned behaviors that are passed down from parent to child. If you lived in a home in which you ate a lot of unhealthy foods, you are going to continue to increase your risk for cancer. If your parents smoked and you began smoking, you will obviously be more susceptible to developing cancer.
While you are probably not going to deal with a hereditary cancer, you will deal with health issues if you continue to stick with bad habits. Make an effort to change whatever poor health choices you may have picked up. It’s never too late to make changes.
- Long Periods of Stress Can Leave Your Body Open to Cancer
Stress is a natural part of life. We all go through periods where we may be stressing about work, relationships, or other situations. However, most of us are able to get back to a more relaxed state and work through our issues without experiencing any negative side effects. Even periods of stress which are intense but not long lasting, which is known as acute stress, doesn’t have too much of a negative impact on your overall health.
For others, situations may lead to chronic stress, which causes stress levels to remain elevated for a long period of time while the person tries to cope with the situation at hand. When stress levels remain elevated, it weakens your immune system. This can then leave your body susceptible to developing cancer or help spread the cancer that you may already have.
Overall, it’s important to keep your stress levels down! Whether it’s taking a warm bath or looking for places to see on Florida’s Gulf Coast, find something that helps to relieve your stress and improve your health. If you’re dealing with chronic stress, small moments of self-care can greatly help your mood and decrease your frustration with your current situation.
Cancer is something that we all know about, but it’s also something that very few of us are knowledgeable about. However, this knowledge is important in order to keep us from developing cancer or to assist us if we do have it.