Reducing the risk of cancer

By R. J. B. Willis MA MSc (Brunel) FRSH FRIPH AITV FIHPE

 

The myth that everyone with cancer will die from the disease was exposed some yars ago by the groundbreaking work of Professors Richard Doll and Richard Peto. They stated: ‘The common fatal cancers occur in large part as a result of lifestyle and other environmental factors and are, in principle, preventable.’

Professor Sir Richard Doll went on to say,   ‘On a worldwide scale the differences in incidence that we have observed encourage the belief that all common types of cancer are largely avoidable, in the sense that it should be possible to reduce the risk of developing each type by at least half and often by 80% or more.

Early recognition.

Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is important, but better by far is prevention by avoiding the associated risks now clearly set out by the World Health Organisation and Europe Against Cancer. Doll and Peto’s work highlighted that cancers can be grouped into three.

• The largest avoidable cause for cancer is smoking and accounts for about 30% of cancer deaths.
• Another third is attributable to diet and alcohol use affecting every part of the digestive and excretory systems. Ernest Wynder of the American Health Foundation notes: ‘it is our current estimate that some 50% of all cancers in females in the Western world and about one third of all cancers in males are related to nutritional factors’. Or the lack of good nutrition.
• The remaining third of cancer deaths is due to environmental hazards associated with the home, workplace or the wider environment; activities such as excessive sunbathing and use of sun beds; and cancers related to sexual and reproductive factors such as age gender and sexual activity.

Reducing the risks.

Clearly grouping cancers into these approximate thirds already points to measures that can help to reduce the risks:

• Avoiding smoking, both personally and through staying out of smoke laden environments, will help to reduce risks. Quitting smoking is not as hard as it is sometimes portrayed, and there are lots of programmes to choose from.
• Eat more fruit and vegetables. They contain antioxidants that help to protect against cancer. Use more starchy complex carbohydrates, fibre rich foods, and less fatty foods, salt and sugar. In particular: have more fresh, dark green leafy and lightly cooked vegetables, salads and a variety of fresh fruits; wholemeal breads, brown rice, wholemeal pasta and a range of cereals which provide the complex carbohydrates and fibre; use generous quantities of beans, lentils and other pulses as accompaniments to meals, or prepared as the main protein in place of meat; avoid alcohol use.
• We may not be able to do much personally to avoid environmental risks such as background radiation, but we can lobby governments to tackle the environmental problems worldwide.

Other risk lowering factors are firmly within the ambit of our own lifestyles.

• Take regular exercise.
• Use appropriate protection against likely carcinogens in the home and workplace. By using non-toxic products in the home and workplace.
• Observe healthy sexual and reproductive practices.

Of course, non of the risk reduction aspects listed can guarantee a cancer free lifestyle—genetic susceptibility and other factors influence us—but, if cancer does develop, a person will be in a better

Crucifers help prevent cancer

position to respond, co-operate with, and enhance their treatment regime and outcome. The options for diagnosis and treatment are better today than they have ever been. The scope for fear has been markedly reduced.

If you  find as I have that it is difficult if not impossible to eat the quantities of food that are recommended in this article then perhaps you should do as I do and follow a regular food supplement programme for advice on this my contact details are on my web site. Several products have helped people to overcome major health issues.

Tags: Cancer