11th February 2024
Staff were given information on 5 ways to help reduce cancer risks
By Ministry of Health
*Education on the Move*
Staff were given information on 5 ways to help reduce cancer risks.
Cancer occurs when cells in our body multiply out of control, causing us harm. This can happen in any part of the body. It is important to learn about cancer from credible sites backed by research.
Ways to reduce our risk:
1. Avoid tobacco in all its forms. Tobacco can enter the cells and cause changes in the dna. It has 70 plus chemicals that can cause lung, colorectal, breast, throat, cervical, bladder, mouth and esophageal cancer.
2. Limit or avoid the use of alcohol as it increases your risk for cancers such as breast colorectal, esophageal, oral, liver, and larynx (voice box)
3. Eat a diet high in fibre (fruits, vegetables and whole grains), low in salt and added sugars. High salt diets and consumption of processed meats like salami sausages etc. increases our risk for stomach cancer.
4. Be physically active. Apart from consuming a diet low in fibre not being active also promotes unhealthy weight which puts us at risk for developing cancer of the bowel, kidney, pancreas, oesophagus and endometrium (uterus), as well as breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
5. Know your family history and get the recommended screening. Several cancers can be prevented or treated easily and successfully when screening is done as recommended. Examples of screenings include Papsmears (Cervical Cancer), Breast examination, Prostate test, Colon test and Lung test
Other recommendations include
- Practicing safe sex
- Getting vaccinated against HPV and Hepatitis B, which can cause cervical cancer and liver cancer retrospectively.
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