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Cancer prevention

Between one third to a half of all cancers are thought to be preventable through awareness and healthy lifestyle practices such as paying attention to what you eat, drink, smoke and how much exercise you get. And overweight body is at more risk of developing cancer and excessive sun exposure is a large factor in melanoma.

To significantly reduce your risk of cancer:

•    Eat at least two servings of fruit and fives of vegetables each day

•    At least three serves of bread, cereal, grain products, pasta and rice.

•    Eat low-fat foods including dairy and lean red meat, fish and chicken.

•    Limit high-fat foods and those with little nutritional value including fried and takeaway food, soft drinks, cakes, pastries and sweets.

•    Exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. There are health benefits if you can work up to regular higher levels of exercise e.g 60 minutes or 30 minutes of high intensity exercise.

•    Maintain a healthy body weight for your height and build.

•    Alcohol in moderation- only one standard glass each day for women and two for men

•    Quit smoking.

•    Protect yourself against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation wear a broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses and sunscreen. Never use solarium tanning machines or booths as they transmit harmful UV radiation.

•    Avoid workplace and environmental hazards such as asbestos, aniline dyes and benzene which cause cancers.

•    Take part in disease screening programs and keep regular appointments with your local GP to ensure early detection of illness or disease which will give you the best chance of recovery.