February is National Cancer Prevention Month. While there is no fool-proof method for cancer prevention, scientific research does support the fact that healthy lifestyle choices are essential. We are six weeks into the New Year and this is a good opportunity to assess our progress with our health related resolutions.
Important Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer:
Perhaps the most important thing one can do to prevent cancer is to avoid smoking…first hand or second hand. It has been directly linked to cancer of the lung, head and neck, bladder and pancreas and others. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 20 to 30 times.
30 -45 Minutes of moderate exercise or physical activity 4-5 days per week is recommended to reduce the risk of cancer. Walk, ride a bike, swim, or join a gym, just do something! Keep in mind, however, individuals that exercised for longer durations and at higher intensities were shown to experience the greatest reduction in their risk cancer.
Why Exercise Works
Various biological mechanisms including hormonal changes have been suggested as possible reasons for the reduction in cancer through exercise. However, current research has demonstrated a strong link between cancer and stress. Stress, which reduces our body’s natural defense mechanisms, such as adrenal cortical or stress hormones, increases our susceptibility to disease including cancer. Exercise and physical activity has been shown to not only reduce stress, anxiety, and depression but also to elevate mood. These psychological improvements may be the reason why exercise and physical activity are effective in preventing cancer.
Obesity as a risk factor for cancer has been demonstrated in the scientific literature for years. Individuals that are more physically active are usually not overweight. Exercise increases basal metabolic rate, expends calories, and burns fat to help control your weight and to help maintain a more normal lean body mass. Obesity can be prevented through physical activity and exercise.
Colorectal Cancer
Physical activity and exercise has been shown to have the greatest prevention against colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men and women combined. Physical activity reduced the risk of colorectal cancer up to 70% for both men and women.
Breast Cancer
Research has been able to establish a similar relationship between physical activity and breast cancer. Approximately one out of every eight women in the United States can develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer up to 40%.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, the second most common cause of male death, will affect one in every five American males. However, the risk of prostate cancer can be reduced up to 30% through physical activity and exercise. Researchers hypothesize that exercise may have its greatest protective effect against prostate cancer when initiated early in a man’s life.
Cancer of the Lung/Uterus/Cervix
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Cancers of the uterus and cervix will accounts for 7,400 deaths annually in the United States. Exercise and physical activity can reduce the risk of lung and uterine/cervical cancer up to 40% and 90%, respectively.
Both obesity and stress, as mentioned above, have been linked with cancer of various types. A healthy low-fat diet, limited in red meat, with moderate amounts of fish, rich in fruits, vegetables and nuts along with and regular exercise are essential components for prevention , especially for colorectal and prostate cancer.
The use of a good home water filter has many healthy benefits. It may reduce your exposure to carcinogens and other harmful chemicals. Also, using a steel or glass container to store drinking water is important to avoid chemicals such as BPA found in plastic bottles.
The American Cancer Society recommends drinking more than 8 cups of water per day to prevent bladder cancer by diluting the concentration of urine in the bladder.
Processed, charred, blackened, and well-done meats are associated with heterocyclic amines, which are cancer causing and formed when charcoal broiling meat. Marinating meat for an extended time prior to grilling has been recommended to improve safety according to some studies.
Some studies suggest that the really dark greens such as spinach, kale, collards and broccoli are valuable in cancer preventions. Endive, arugula, and romaine must be added to this list.
Some studies show that snacking on Brazil nuts and other nuts high in antioxidants, lowers the risk of some cancers such as bladder, lung and colorectal.
Take time to use adequate sun block and proper clothing to protect your skin from the sun to prevent skin cancer, especially if you are light skinned. At all costs, avoid sunburn!
When possible, buy fresh foods and meats free of antibiotic and hormones. Choose organic produce grown free of pesticides. Eat farm-raised fish and limit consumption of fish from waters high in mercury concentration
Regular check-ups by your physician is essential to stay healthy and have early detection of disease. Many tests and vaccinations offer life saving information such as: PAP tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, PSA blood tests and others. Ask your physician about new vaccinations such as HPV, Human Papillomavirus, are important for the prevention of cervical cancer in women and head and neck cancer in men.
In keeping with National Cancer Prevention Month, Delta Medix, Scranton, PA, announces the opening of “The Delta Medix Foundation for Cancer Care.” The foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to aid all local cancer patients and their families, from diagnosis through survivorship, to be a resource for all cancer patients through assistance with financial, physical, and psychological needs, specifically to enable cancer patients to receive complimentary services such as nutritional and psychological counseling, exercise and physical therapy to all cancer patients in NEPA.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR: Janet Caputo, PT, OCS is clinical director of physical therapy at Mackarey & Mackarey Physical Therapy Consultants, LLC in downtown Scranton where she practices orthopedic and sports physical therapy. She is currently a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at the University of Scranton.
MEDICAL EXPERT REVIEWER: Michael A. Burke MD, Radiation Oncologist, Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care, a division of Delta Medix, Scranton, PA.
Read “Health and Exercise Forum” by Dr. Paul J. Mackarey every Monday in The Scranton Times-Tribune. Dr. Mackarey is a doctor of orthopedic and sports physical therapy with offices in downtown Scranton. He is an associate clinical professor of medicine at TCMC.
