Whereas some cancer While driven by genetics, studies have shown that up to half of all cases are caused by behavioral risk factors – meaning they can be prevented.
Doctors recommend some simple lifestyle changes to prevent cancer, such as not smoking, eating nutritious food, wearing Sun protection and limiting exposure to carcinogens – but each person’s means of reducing risk may look different.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have compiled four specific, research-backed strategies for reducing risk.
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1. Stay on top of preventive checkups
Procrastination is one of the top causes of default cancer screeningResearch has shown.
For example, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among black people in the US, but many people do not get the recommended screening.
A study conducted by Dr. Adjoa Anyane-Yeboah, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), found that the primary reason for skipped screenings was “self-reported delay” due to “financial concerns.” COVID-19 concerns And fear of both the test and the bowel preparation.”
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“The main takeaway from this study is that all providers should discuss colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals with all of their patients, because early detection through screening can save lives,” Anyane-Yeboah told Fox News Digital. Is.”
“To reduce the risk of cancer, all people should get tested from the age of 45 and talk to their families about their family history To find out if they need screening first.”
,colorectal cancer It can be prevented with screening, and screening really does save lives.”
Screening guidelines for other types of cancer can be found on the American Cancer Society’s website.
2. Improve your sleep health
Insufficient or poor quality sleep has been linked to a higher risk of developing cancer.
Heming Wang, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), led a research team that examined the impact of insomnia on ovarian cancer risk.
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“Insomnia is a common sleep disorder ovarian cancer Patients,” Wang told Fox News Digital.
He added, “Our research shows that insomnia increases the risk of a specific subtype of ovarian cancer and that it reduces survival in patients.”
“These findings highlight the importance of addressing insomnia in the prevention and management of ovarian cancer.”
Based on these findings, exploration is underway treatment of insomnia According to researchers, it may help reduce the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer.
3. Know the risks and benefits of daily aspirin use
Research has regularly shown that taking aspirin or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer – but they may also cause dangerous side effects such as bleeding and swelling.
According to the MGH, “It is important to know whether you are more likely to benefit from daily aspirin use.”
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Daniel Sikavi, MD, and Andrew Chan, MD, of MGH, led a study that explored the association between aspirin and colon cancer risk.
“Our results showed that people who have less healthy lifestyle — higher body mass index, more smoking, more alcohol use, less physical activity and poorer diet quality — had greater benefits than aspirin use in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer,” Sikawi told Fox News Digital.
The researchers found that people with healthy lifestyles had a lower overall risk of colon cancer, but regular aspirin use did not have the same protective effect for that group.
“This work is an important example of a more personalized approach to cancer prevention by targeting effective prevention strategies to the populations most likely to benefit,” Sikawi said.
4. Reduce your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages
More than half of the US population consumes sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) on any given day, studies have shown.
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Research from the American Cancer Society (ACS) found that men and women who drank two or more doses of SSBs per day had a 5% higher risk of dying from obesity-related cancer.
“Despite their sweet taste, sugary drinks pose significant health risks,” Longgang Zhao, PhD, a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Fox News Digital.
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“Researchers have already linked the beverages to obesity, diabetes, etc. heart disease,
Zhao recently led a study that examined the association between sugar-sweetened beverages and liver cancer risk in post-menopausal women.
“In our current study using data from the Women’s Health Initiative Prospective Cohort, we found that postmenopausal women People who drink one or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day have a higher risk of developing liver cancer and dying from chronic liver disease than people who drink three or fewer sugar-sweetened beverages per month. Are.”
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“If a causal link is established between sugary drinks and liver disease, it would have widespread implications globally public health The initiatives are sufficient.”