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The European Code Against Cancer, inspired by the European Commission, aims to educate the public on how to reduce the risk of cancer. It has twelve recommendations that most people can easily follow. Research shows that if everyone followed these recommendations, almost half of all cancer deaths in Europe could be avoided.
In cancer prevention, it is worth considering twelve valuable tips contained in the European Code Against Cancer:
1. Tobacco
Do not smoke. Do not use tobacco in any form.
Tobacco is a major cause of diseases, including lung cancer. More than half of the people who use tobacco for a long time die from smoking. Worldwide, tobacco use causes approximately 6 million deaths each year.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and poor prognosis malignancies. It is caused, inter alia, by exposure to toxic substances, including tobacco smoke, polluted air, as well as secondhand smoke. The first symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and spitting blood. Lung cancer is called a disease of civilization. Smoking tobacco, so not only cigarettes, but also pipes, cigars or the so-called water pipe (shisha) is the strongest risk factor for lung cancer. In Europe, smoking causes an estimated 82%. lung cancer cases. There are variants of lung cancer that arise independently of tobacco, on average every tenth patient develops it.
2. Second-hand tobacco smoke
Create a smoke-free environment at home. Support a tobacco-free workplace policy.
Second-hand tobacco smoke contains carcinogens that are released into the air as a result of the combustion of tobacco during smoking. Home and work are often a place of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, the inhalation of which can cause premature death, as well as cause lung cancer, coronary heart disease and respiratory diseases. Studies on non-smokers show that people who regularly inhale second-hand smoke at work or at home are twice as likely to develop lung cancer as compared to non-smokers who do not inhale second-hand smoke.
3. Correct body weight
Maintain a healthy body weight.
Research shows that people who eat a healthy diet and in addition lead an active lifestyle are less likely to develop cancer. Obesity and overweight increase the risk of developing the following types of cancer: cancers of the intestine (colon and anus), kidney, throat (esophagus), pancreas and gall bladder, and in women also breast cancer (especially in postmenopausal women), mucosal cancers uterus (endometrium) and ovarian cancer. These neoplasms are among the most common in Europe.
4. Physical activity
Be physically active in your daily life. Limit the time you spend sitting.
Many studies have confirmed the relationship between physical activity and health, and reducing the risk of developing many types of cancer. Exercise reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, as well as breast and endometrial cancer, regardless of body weight. What’s more, exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of cancer of the kidneys, pancreas, throat (esophagus) and gallbladder. Some studies confirm that physical activity that reduces a sedentary lifestyle may reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
5. Diet
Follow the recommendations of the correct diet:
- eat plenty of whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.
- Limit your intake of high-calorie foods (high in sugar or fat) and avoid sugary drinks.
- avoid processed meat; Limit your intake of red meat and foods high in salt.
You should eat to avoid gaining weight. The diet should be balanced by consuming fiber-rich plant foods that reduce the risk of cancer of the digestive system. High-energy foods and sugary drinks should be avoided. To reduce the risk of colon and stomach cancer, it is recommended to eat a small amount of red meat, especially processed meat products, and to eat a small amount of salt, as well as salty or salted foods.
6. alcohol
If you drink any type of alcohol, limit your intake. Abstinence helps prevent cancer.
Drinking any amount of alcohol increases your risk of developing certain types of cancer. Could contribute to cancer of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx and larynx, liver, large intestine (colon and rectum) and breast. Reducing your consumption or avoiding alcohol altogether lowers this risk.
7. Exposure to sunlight / UV radiation
Avoid overexposure to the sun’s rays (this is especially true for children). Protect yourself from the sun, use sunscreen products. Do not use the solarium.
Most melanomas and other skin cancers are associated with the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, i.e. sun and sunbeds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide in fair-skinned societies, and the number of cases has increased significantly in recent decades. Skin cancer, like any other cancer, does not arise right away. It is preceded by precancerous changes that can turn into melanoma (most aggressive) or non-melanoma skin cancer (e.g., basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC)). It is a long-term, multi-stage process and it is difficult to predict the time after which a neoplasm will develop after the appearance of a lesion on the skin. Nevertheless, any skin lesions must not be underestimated.
8. Pollution
Protect yourself from carcinogenic substances in the workplace. Follow the health and safety guidelines.
In the environment in which we operate, there are many substances (including chemicals) produced by human or natural activity, among which there are some that may contribute to the appearance of cancer. Air pollution has recently been defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a mixture of a range of potentially carcinogenic pollutants.
There are many different types of cancer caused by pollution, e.g. cancer of the lung, bladder and skin, as well as mesothelioma.
9. Radiation
Find out if your home is exposed to natural radiation from high radon levels. Take action to reduce its level.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can be exposed to when you are at home. Exposure to radon increases the risk of contracting the disease lung cancer.
10. Breastfeeding and hormone therapy
Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of developing cancer. If you can, breastfeed your baby.
Women who breastfeed for a long time are less likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not breastfeed their babies. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the protection against breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of developing certain cancers. Limit its use.
The side effects of medication may increase your risk of developing cancer or reduce your risk of developing cancer. Hormone replacement therapy, which is used primarily to relieve symptoms associated with the menopause in women, should be avoided or limited where possible. It turns out that the use of therapy increases the risk of developing breast cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Other drugs, including some hormonal drugs, can only increase the risk of cancer in women, e.g. oral contraceptives.
11. Vaccination and infections
Make sure your children are immunized against:
- hepatitis B (applies to newborns),
- human papillomavirus – HPV (for girls).
Infections are closely related to cancer. It turns out that infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria, cause almost one fifth of all cancers in the world. The most important cancer-related infections are human papillomaviruses (HPV), which can cause cancer of the cervix, anus, mouth; hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), both of which have a major impact on the incidence of liver cancer. Helicobacter pylori, which is a bacteria that can cause stomach cancer, may also turn out to be dangerous. Therefore, vaccines are the most effective way to prevent some of these infections.
12. Screening tests
Participate in structured screening programs for the early detection of:
- colorectal cancer (the recommendation applies to both men and women),
- breast cancer (in women)
- cervical cancer (in women).
There are cancers that can be detected early and treated before the patient develops the first symptoms associated with the disease. Screening tests are used for this, the main goal of which is to reduce the number of deaths caused by cancer. The sooner cancer is found, the better the chance of less invasive treatments will be. For cervical and colorectal cancer, screening may even prevent the development of cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer is recommended in the European Union as part of a structured program.
You can read more about the European Code Against Cancer here >>