Introduction to the Oncology Care Unit

- Cancer Prevention

Most types of cancer can be prevented by following basic steps to reduce their risks. Here are eight simple tips that include actions such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco use. There are also additional steps that can reduce the risk of specific types of cancer.

·  Follow a Healthy Diet: Increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with plant-based foods like whole grains, in your daily diet.

·  Maintain an Ideal Weight: Maintain an ideal weight by choosing foods with lower calories, limiting sugars, and reducing animal fats.

·  Limit Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer.

·  Quit Smoking: Different types of tobacco can cause cancers such as oral, throat, lung, and pancreatic cancer. Deciding to quit smoking helps protect against cancer risk.

·  Vaccination:

1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: Helps protect women from cervical cancer and other types of cancer.

2. Hepatitis B vaccine: Protects against liver cancer.

·  Limit Processed Meat Intake: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization, has confirmed that reliance on processed meats increases the risk of certain types of cancer.

·  Avoid Sun Exposure: Long-term sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer, which is the most common type. To protect yourself:

▶️  Wear protective sunglasses.

▶️  Cover exposed areas of your skin.

▶️  Use sunscreen every two hours.

▶️  Avoid tanning beds as they are harmful, just like natural sunlight.

·  Avoid Virus Transmission: It’s important to prevent the transmission of certain viruses that increase the risk of liver cancer, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.