Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in developed countries, so the efforts of many leading world institutions and medical centers are aimed at combating cancer, in particular, on their prevention.

Today, more than 100 cancers are known, and there is no reliable prevention against most of them.

The National Cancer Institute and the US CDC recommend several simple measures to reduce risk.

The number of new cancers can be reduced, many deaths can be prevented. For example, studies have shown that screening for cervical cancer and colorectal cancer gives a chance to detect precancerous conditions or cancer at the earliest stage - this is the best chance of recovery. The same goes for mammography to check for breast cancer.

Today in the US, for example, in 25 states, mass free tests are conducted for the most common types of cancer.

Vaccines are a new way to reduce the risk of cancer. As is known, human papillomavirus is responsible for the development of cervical cancer and some other types of cancer. Hepatitis B virus increases the risk of liver cancer. That's why vaccines against these dangerous infections are very important for the prevention of cancer.

There are other, more simple ways to reduce the likelihood of cancer. For this, one does not even need to go to the hospital - it is enough to change something in your daily life, habits, nutrition. Among these methods, alcohol restriction, a healthy diet with a predominance of fruits and vegetables, avoiding a prolonged stay under the scorching sun and, of course, giving up cigarettes.

Screening tests for cancer.

Screening means testing for a disease before any symptoms appear. Regular screening tests today are conducted on breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer.

Some medical centers have the ability to check blood on numerous cancer biomarkers - substances that are produced only when there are certain tumors in the body. Such a comprehensive verification is very difficult and at this stage is very expensive.

Vaccination.

In many countries, a vaccine against human papillomavirus has already been approved. For example, in the US, the FDA recommends the use of this vaccine for girls and women between 9 and 26 years of age. It protects against the virus that most often causes cancer of the cervix, vulva and vagina. But vaccination is not a reason to refuse periodic screening for cervical cancer.

Another infection, hepatitis B, can lead to chronic liver damage and an increased risk of cancer. The disease itself can be of different severity - sometimes hepatitis lasts only a few weeks (even without symptoms), and sometimes it passes into a severe chronic illness. Hepatitis B vaccines are available for all age groups.

Diet and Exercise.

Studies show that overweight and obesity significantly increase the risk of endometrial, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Experts define excess body weight as a BMI of 25 to 29, and an index of body mass index above 29 indicates obesity. Therefore, a good physical form is not just a tribute to fashion, but also a way to protect yourself from many deadly diseases.

To give up smoking.

Warnings on a cigarette pack are not as scary as real statistics. Lung cancer in developed countries is the No. 1 cause of death among cancer. At the same time, cigarette smoke causes 80-90% of cases of lung cancer. In men who smoke, the risk of lung cancer increases 23-fold, and for women who smoke 13 times compared with non-smokers.

Lungs are far from being the only target of tobacco. Smoking causes cancer of the larynx, mouth and throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, cervix, stomach, pancreas, as well as myeloid leukemia. And this is only the data that scientists managed to confirm.

If your colleagues or family smokes next to you, do not think that this will pass without a trace. Passive smoking at home or at work increases the risk of lung cancer by 20-30%. It is interesting that some toxic substances from tobacco smoke enter your body in greater quantities than in the body of the smoker himself.

Limitation of alcohol intake.

Numerous studies around the world have shown that alcohol leads to cancer of the mouth and throat. Daily intake of 50 grams of alcohol increases the likelihood of these diseases by 2-3 times compared to non-drinkers.

Already, nobody is surprised that alcohol increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. More than 100 scientific studies have proved that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, and the relationship between drinking and colon cancer has been confirmed in more than 50 studies.

Protection of the skin from the sun.

Skin cancer is considered one of the most common oncological diseases, and its frequency in the world continues to grow. In this case, skin cancer is easiest to prevent, that is, it basically depends on external factors. Excess exposure to ultraviolet is the most important risk factor.

To protect yourself from this danger, do not forget about closed clothing, glasses and sunscreen, and also do not go in the summer without the need for the sun.

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