How to Lower Your Risk of Cancer After 50
(Robert Bayer/Dreamstime)
By Lynn Allison | Friday, 07 June 2019 09:39 AM
As we age, we become more susceptible to diseases. According to the National Institutes of Health, midlife is the time when some well-recognized risk factors for cancer, such as lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption and even chronic infections, begin to have a direct impact on health.
“The prevention or management of chronic conditions and the promotion of general health are promising strategies to prevent or delay cancer incidence at older ages,” says the NIH.
“I think that prevention and proper screening in your 50s is crucial to decreasing your risk of cancer later on,” Dr. Herman Kattlove, former spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and a Los Angeles-based oncologist tells Newsmax. “This is the time we need to be especially vigilant.”
According to AARP and Harvard Health, here are some steps to take:
Reduce your risk of skin cancer by half by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen when you are outdoors no matter what the weather. This is even more crucial for those who have had previous bouts with skin cancer. A Stanford University study found that people diagnosed with six or more basal cell carcinomas have more than three times the risk of developing future cancers. These include not only skin cancer but also breast, prostate, leukemia and lymphoma.
> Get a colonoscopy. This procedure allows doctors to spot and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. According to the AARP, if the prep and procedure scare you, there are other less invasive tests available such as the fecal occult blood test and the stool DNA test called the Cologuard.
> Eat properly. Studies have shown that eating red meat and saturated fat may lead to certain cancers, such as colon and prostate. A diet rich in leafy green veggies, fruits and whole grains can help lower your risk of cancer and also heart disease.
>Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. Get medical imaging only when you really need it.
> Exercise. Physical activity has been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer and it may even prevent prostate cancer and breast cancer, say the experts at Harvard Health. Because obesity is associated with many forms of cancer, exercise offers another layer of protection by helping you lose weight.
> Get enough vitamin D. Some experts say that having adequate levels of this vitamin helps reduce your risk of colon and prostate cancer.
> Limit alcohol. If you choose to drink, limit yourself to one to two drinks daily. Excess consumption of alcohol has been linked to cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, liver and colon. It also increases women’s risk of breast cancer.
> Avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins such as asbestos fibers, benzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.
Poster Comment:
I know a guy that just had a colonoscopy. He did not like drinking that stuff they use to get the reading. What is it Barium?