We have known for many years that certain lifestyle habits increase the risk of a cancer diagnosis. In 2012 Dr. Colditz stated at the World Cancer Congress
30 years ago epidemiologists were already showing that tobacco, alcohol, and diet — which in their definition was the sum of dietary intake, lack of physical activity, and obesity — accounted for more than half of all cancer. We can’t expect these changes in outcome to occur overnight, but they could bring huge benefits to society.
The first statement was made 40 years ago and Dr. Colditz suggested improvements 14 years ago, and now there is a global cancer surge.
Rates of cancer have doubled since 1990 and new research projects more than 30 million new cases each year by 2050. However, four in ten cancer deaths are tied to preventable risks such as smoking, poor diet, and high blood sugar.
We have known for many years that smoking, being inactive, drinking alcohol, and obesity are preventable lifestyle factors in a significant number of cancers, but 40% of the new cancer cases are due to 44 risk factors that can be modified, not only the ones listed, but air pollution, unhealthy diet and occupational hazards. These are hazards that can be reduced, not only through personal changes, but with political changes. Unfortunately, with the war on science I am not optimistic, still hopeful, but…
What can you do?
Dr. Colditz, among many others, believes that,
Improvements in diet could reduce cancer incidence by 50% and increases in physical activity could reduce cancer incidence by as much as 85% in 5 to 20 years.
It also means that you can do something to reduce your risk.
The National Cancer Institute used to have a list on their website of the top ten risk factors and 6 of the top 10 are ones you can do something about. While you can’t change your family history, hormones, getting older or even some exposure to chemicals you can reduce the many of the risk factors.
What do risk factors mean? This is where the stats get confusing. Does it mean I will get cancer if I don’t change my lifestyle? Not necessarily. We all know someone who has a story of their aunt/grandmother/ someone who smoked and drank every day and lived to 150 or so.
But, not changing your lifestyle is a little like betting against the house in Vegas.
You know that sometimes, someone wins big, but most of the time, most of the people lose. There is an absolute risk – what are my chances of developing cancer in the next 5 years? And relative risk, or the relationship between a behaviour like smoking, and developing cancer.
Relative risk is where you have control.
5-10% of all cancer are due to genetics, but even people with healthy genes can develop cancer by changes or mutations due to lifestyle factors. This is where we could and should be making the greatest changes in the fight against cancer.
The World Health Organization states
Tobacco is the single greatest risk factor. Physical inactivity, dietary factors, obesity or being overweight, and drinking alcohol are the rest.
Need more proof?
Another study was recently published in the International Journal of Cancer. Research shows how just 10 MINUTES of hard exercise changes molecules that repair DNA and stops cancer growth. This study studied colon cancer progression and found that 8-10 minutes of exercise increased DNA damage repair and the expression of the DNA repair gene. This study comes after the three year CHALLENGE trial that showed a 37% increase in colon cancer survival with a structured exercise program.
Dr Kerry Courneya, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer, University of Alberta and the CHALLENGE study co-chair says,
Our study shows that exercise is no longer just a quality-of-life intervention—it is a treatment for colon cancer that must be made available to all patients.
A study from Cancer Research UK states that for men and women excess weight is the most important risk factor after smoking. Author and researcher Jane Wade, Ph.D. says “What many people don’t realize is that extra fat around the middle — their ‘muffin top’ — is surprisingly active, releasing hormones and other chemicals that can make cells in the body divide far more often than usual, which can increase the risk of cancer,” and we know that at least 60% of the developed world’s population has a weight problem.
Why doesn’t prevention get promoted more?
Does your doctor tell you that you can do your part to prevent cancer? Do cancer fundraisers serve healthy food and non-alcoholic beverages? Do they stress that lifestyle is a risk factor? Did you know that extra weight was a risk factor?
Too often the answer is no.
While you may do everything you can and still get cancer (we can’t control everything) you can increase the odds that you will stay healthy even after a cancer diagnosis. Eat well, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, drink alcohol, eat whole foods, mostly plants, grains and beans to reduce your personal risk.
Change your mind, change your health,
Shayla
Eat better, live better and feel better.
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