Tips For Cancer Prevention Month

February is Cancer Prevention Month. Several studies over the years have helped to shed light on some of cancer’s most common causes. To best help observe this Cancer Prevention Month, read on to find out some of the best ways to reduce your risk of cancer. 

Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer

Studies have linked several factors to cancer including tobacco, ultra-violet rays, etc. You can take these seven steps to significantly reduce your risk of cancer from one of these factors.

• See Your Doctor Regularly: By receiving consistent medical care like self-exams and screenings, you can discover cancer early. This helps treatment to be the most successful. If discovered early, you can prevent cancer from spreading or getting any worse.
• Do Not Use Tobacco Products: Tobacco use of any kind is universally recognized as a direct link to cancer risk. Lung, throat, mouth, liver, pancreas, bladder, cervix, kidney and larynx cancer have all been linked to the use of any tobacco product. If cancer prevention is something you care about, avoiding tobacco use is priority number one.
• Avoid Unnecessary Risks: Safe sex and avoiding sharing needles are two easy ways of avoiding risky behaviors. Sexually transmitted infections like HIV and HPV significantly increase your cancer risk. Sharing needles could lead to contracting HIV or hepatitis. Both increase your risk for cancer.
• Maintain A Healthy Diet: Several fatty foods, white breads and sugar have all been linked to cancer. You are also at a higher risk of cancer if you are obese—another incentive to eat a healthy diet. Whole grains, dark greens and Brazil nuts can actually help to reinforce your body’s defense against cancer with their components of magnesium, selenium and a low-glycemic load.
• Take Proper Vaccines: If you take preventative vaccines for Hepatitis B and Human papillomavirus (HPV), you are simultaneously reducing your risk of cancer. Both of these conditions greatly increase your chances of getting cancer.
• Remain Physically Active And Keep A Healthy Weight: Even just moderate exercise, like a brisk walk for two hours a week, can cut your risk of breast cancer and colon cancer significantly. As previously stated, keeping a healthy weight is a huge priority in cancer prevention, and being physically active can help with that. It is recommended to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. 
• Protect Against The Sun: Unsafe sun exposure has been linked to skin cancer. To make your exposure to the sun safe, you can stay in the shade as much as possible, avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., cover exposed areas, use sun screen and avoid both tanning beds and sun lamps.

Benefit Children Living With Cancer

While you are on your way to making healthy preventative choices for Cancer Prevention Month, there are many children with cancer and other critical illnesses waiting for a chance to just be kids. You can help these kids live their dreams by donating your unwanted vehicle to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish.

Your donation to Wheels For Wishes, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) car donation organization, not only helps kids live their dreams, but it also frees up space in your garage or driveway, provides you with a 100 percent tax-deductible receipt, and we make it easy by coming to you with free towing!

You can observe Cancer Prevention Month by taking control of your own life with these cancer prevention tips, and by helping children with critical illnesses. Donate today by calling 1-855-278-9474 or by filling out an online donation form.