Today (Feb 4th 2015) is World Cancer day, Cancer Research UK are calling on the nation to unite by asking us to come together to remember the lost, to join forces to celebrate survivors, to rally in support of those fighting cancer, and to unite to protect future generations.
With this is mind, we ask the question - Can Cancer be Prevented??Many people believe that getting cancer is purely down to genes, fate or bad luck. But through scientific research, we know that our risk actually depends on a combination of our genes, our environment and aspects of our lives, many of which we can control.
Cancer is caused by damage to our DNA, the chemical instructions that tell our cells what to do. Things in our environment, such as UV rays, or our lifestyle, such as the cancer causing chemicals in tobacco, can damage our DNA. This damage builds up over time. If a cell develops too much damage to its DNA it can start to multiply out of control - this is how cancer starts.
Some people inherit damaged DNA from their parents, which can give them a higher risk of certain cancers. For example the BRCA genes are linked with breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers. But the proportion of cancers caused by inherited faulty genes is small.
In the UK, more than one in three people will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Every year, around 325,000 people are diagnosed with the disease. But experts estimate that more than four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes, such as:
Some people inherit damaged DNA from their parents, which can give them a higher risk of certain cancers. For example the BRCA genes are linked with breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers. But the proportion of cancers caused by inherited faulty genes is small.
In the UK, more than one in three people will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Every year, around 325,000 people are diagnosed with the disease. But experts estimate that more than four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes, such as:
- not smoking
- keeping a healthy body weight
- cutting back on alcohol
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- keeping active
- avoiding certain infections (like HPV)
- staying safe in the sun
- occupation
Is prevention a guarantee?
Preventing cancer doesn’t work in the same way as preventing infectious diseases with vaccines.
‘Healthy living’ is not a cast-iron guarantee against cancer. But it stacks the odds in our favour, by reducing the risk of developing the disease.
For example, we know that it’s possible for a heavy smoker to live a cancer-free life, while someone who never touches cigarettes could develop lung cancer. But lots of large, long-term studies clearly show that people who have never smoked are far less likely to develop or die from cancer than smokers.
In the same way, careful drivers cannot guarantee that they will never get into an accident due to events beyond their control, but they are much less likely to do so than reckless ones.
‘Healthy living’ is not a cast-iron guarantee against cancer. But it stacks the odds in our favour, by reducing the risk of developing the disease.
For example, we know that it’s possible for a heavy smoker to live a cancer-free life, while someone who never touches cigarettes could develop lung cancer. But lots of large, long-term studies clearly show that people who have never smoked are far less likely to develop or die from cancer than smokers.
In the same way, careful drivers cannot guarantee that they will never get into an accident due to events beyond their control, but they are much less likely to do so than reckless ones.
Can lifestyle changes really make a difference?
Yes, and not just for cancer. In 2008, a large UK study worked out how a combination of four healthy behaviours would affect your health. These were: not smoking; keeping active; moderating how much alcohol you drink; and eating five daily portions of fruit and vegetables.
People who ticked all four healthy boxes gained an average of 14 years of life compared to people who did not do any of them. By the end of the study, they were less likely to have died from any cause.
If you have any concerns about an lumps or bumps in your mouth, or have a mouth ulcer that does not heal within 2 weeks, please contact us at Absolute Dental on 01548 852165 so that we can take a look and offer reassurance. A full oral cancer screen is included at every Dental Health Assessment, and all of the clinical team here are highly trained to spot any early warning signs.
People who ticked all four healthy boxes gained an average of 14 years of life compared to people who did not do any of them. By the end of the study, they were less likely to have died from any cause.
If you have any concerns about an lumps or bumps in your mouth, or have a mouth ulcer that does not heal within 2 weeks, please contact us at Absolute Dental on 01548 852165 so that we can take a look and offer reassurance. A full oral cancer screen is included at every Dental Health Assessment, and all of the clinical team here are highly trained to spot any early warning signs.
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