Cancer prevention starts with healthy living. By making healthy lifestyle choices you can reduce or “cut down” your risk of getting cancer. There is no single cause of cancer but some factors appear to increase the risk of developing it.
There are some risk factors that you cannot change. For example:
- Age
- Family history of cancer (heredity)
There are some risk factors related to everyday choices, you can choose to:
- Be a non-smoker and avoid tobacco smoke
- Eat a healthy diet
- Be physically active every day
- Stay at a healthy weight
- Limit alcohol use
- Reduce your exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun or indoor tanning equipment, like tanning beds
- Know your body and report any changes to your doctor or dentist
- Follow health and safety instructions when using hazardous materials at home and at work.
If you know your body you can find possible health problems early, including cancer. Know what is normal for you and don’t ignore any changes. If you notice any unusual changes, tell your healthcare provider about them.
Here are some warning signs you should not ignore:
- A new or unusual lump or swelling in the breast, testicles or any other part of the body
- Any sore which does not heal anywhere on your body or in your mouth
- Obvious change in the shape, size or colour of a mole or wart
- A nagging cough, hoarseness or a croaky voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Blood in the urine, stool or phlegm
- Unusual bleeding or discharge of any sort from the nipple, or vagina
- Any change in bladder habits, such as pain or difficulty urinating
- Any change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) that last more than a few weeks
- Persistent indigestion
- Unexplained weight loss, fever or fatigue
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Any new growths on the skin, or patches of skin that bleed, itch or become red
Remember, having any of these signs does not mean that you have cancer. Only your healthcare provider can tell for sure.
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