3 Cancer Prevention Tips
With everything going on in the world right now, a cancer diagnosis is the last thing we want too see happening. The constant checking on numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths becomes a lifestyle for many of us in Singapore. As such, the revolution of this pandemic has distracted us in from the real deadly illness that has people all around the world sick and dying since day zero – cancer.
Today, just in Singapore alone, about 39 people are diagnosed with cancer and 15 people die from it. This happens on a day to day basis. Nobody has immunity against cancer, but there are well known ways to reduce the chances from getting it.
Common Type Of Cancers
Before we delve into prevention methods of cancer, here are some basic information and numbers you should know. Colorectal and lung cancers are the top 2 killer cancers that are faced by both men and women and for women specifically, breast cancer is the first in line. Every year, 1850 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and record over 400 fatalities. In 2018, colorectal took up 16.1% of cancer patients, the highest percentage among other cancer types. Prostate and lung were next with 12.9% and 12.4% respectively.
Tip #1 – A Cancer Prevention Diet
A healthy diet seems to be the notorious enemy of cancer cells. In the wise words of Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, we are what we eat. A healthy diet is not entirely cancer-proof, but it does reduce the risk of cancer significantly. Fruits, vegetables and healthy fats such as olive oil reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well as breast cancer significantly.
A cancer prevention diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet. It comprises of plant-based foods that are rich in nutrients, with extra virgin olive oil and healthy nuts. Vegetables like carrots, brussels sprouts, squash, and non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, beans and spinach should be in your diet. When you feel like snacking during the irregular hours of the day, try fruits instead of sugary desserts, and carrots or celery dipped in hummus or peanut butter instead of tidbits.
Tip #2 – No Smoking
Easy to say, hard to stop. Smoking is a habit and has no lack of negative effects on your body. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease as well as 15 different types of cancers including lung and breast cancer. Not smoking, not even second hand smoking, already gives you many advantages and benefits to your body.
Tip #3 – Breastfeed More
To all the mothers out there with a baby, breastfeed more! Not only is it good for your baby, it is exceptionally beneficial for you too. When you breastfeed, you experience hormonal changes during lactation which delays their menstrual periods and this reduces your lifetime exposure to estrogen, a hormone that encourages the growth of breast cancer cells. As you breastfeed, you shed breast tissue and this process gets rid of potentially damaged cells. This preventive method is only effective if you breastfeed for at least 6 months, and any period beyond that gives you additional protection from breast cancer.
Bonus Tip
Nothing beats catching cancer and treating it at its infancy. This can only be done by regular health checkups. Do a Google search and you should find tons of health providers doing that at a reasonable price.
On the other hand, you can purchase gender specific (links for male and female here) insurance coverage that provides complimentary checkups. This type of plan can help you to detect cancer early through periodic checkups and make payouts to you usually not covered in normal life insurances. Not sure if you have this? Contact us and we can assist you to conduct a policy audit and ensure that this integral part of financial planning is taken care of.