Story by Sarah Nelson, originally published May 2010 on Causecast.
Cancer develops when cells that should normally die start growing out of control and cause damage to your DNA. As cells reproduce, the damaged ones replicate new cells with the same damaged DNA.
Each year, approximately 10 million individuals are diagnosed with cancer. The World Health Organization predicts that unless some major changes occur by 2020, that number will increase to 15 million annually.
Making changes to your lifestyle and knowing your body can help with early detection and even preventing cancer.
Step One: Don’t skip your regular check ups.
Make sure you visit your doctor at least once a year and schedule necessary cancer screenings. What screenings you need depend on your age, gender and lifestyle. Chances are you don’t need to have any major screenings at this point in your life, but talk to you doctor about what is most appropriate for you. Here are a few guidelines for screenings:
Standard check-ups includes basic screenings for irregularities in lymph nodes, skin and oral cavity — you’ll get those every year whether you ask for them or not.
- Cervical cancer — Women should schedule their first cervical cancer screening (pap test) by the age of 21 or when becoming sexually active.
- Breast cancer — Women should schedule yearly mammograms starting at age 40.
- Colon cancer — Men and women should start colorectal cancer screenings at age 50. After that, testing should continue every five to ten years.
- Prostate cancer — Men should schedule their first prostate screening at the age of 50 years old.
Make sure you talk to your doctor about any history of certain types of cancer in your family. The doctor may want to screen you earlier and more regularly if cancer seems to be in your genes.
Step Two: Eat superfoods.
Superfoods are loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants and other nutrients that help prevent radical cell growth. Eating a healthy consistent diet packed with superfoods is an important defense in cancer prevention. Here is a basic breakdown of foods you should eat regularly:
- Broccoli contains cancer-fighting flavonoids that help neutralize over-active cells.
Antioxidants, like beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, help prevent cancer by protecting cells from harmful molecules dubbed “free radicals.” Blueberries are one of the foods with the most antioxidants per serving. - Olive oil is one of the good fats that your body needs. It absorbs lycopene so your body benefits even more when you eat lycopene-rich foods — like tomatoes. And olive oil comes with an added bonus — heart health.
- Speaking of tomatoes, these guys are full of lycopene, an antioxidant which can help protect against colon, prostate and bladder cancers.
- Whole grains are packed with fiber which helps regulate your body’s digestive system; which, over time, reduces the risk of colon cancer.
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