18.1 million cases. In 2020, health practitioners worldwide diagnosed 8.8 million women and 9.3 million men with cancer. By 2040, data from the World Health Organization demonstrates that annual cases may rise to 29 million.
Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease. It is a leading cause of death, with an estimated 10 million people dying from a malignant disease each year. The most common cancers in 2020 occurred in the following areas:
- Breast (2.26 million incidences)
- Lung (2.21 million incidences)
- Colon and rectum (1.93 million incidences)
- Prostate (1.41 million incidences)
- Skin (1.20 million incidences)
- Stomach (1.09 million incidences)
Why Cancer Prevention Is Important
If you’re wondering, “Is it possible to prevent cancer?” In some cases, yes, you can avoid cancer. For instance, did you know most lung cancer cases develop due to exposure to tobacco smoke? Avoiding tobacco and secondhand smoke will reduce one’s risk of developing the disease by 50 percent (within 10 years of ending nicotine addiction). Plus, quitting smoking lowers the risk for 11 other cancer types.
But it’s not always possible to prevent cancer, especially if you have inherited cancer genes. Still, incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine can improve your health and potentially reduce your risk of cancer. This way, cancer prevention is not just about avoiding the disease; it’s also about promoting a healthy and fulfilling life.
Health Benefits of Cancer Prevention
Here are some of the positive side effects and benefits of cancer prevention.
1. Longer Life Ahead
Making healthy life choices can improve life expectancy by reducing the risk of cancer and other chronic disorders. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.9 million individuals in the U.S. would develop a form of cancer in 2022. By avoiding carcinogens and following the Ten Commandments of Cancer Prevention, you may enjoy a longer, healthier life.
2. Lower Healthcare Costs
It’s no secret that medical treatments in the US are expensive – so much so that seeking cancer treatment has left several Americans in debt.
You may eliminate the need for costly cancer treatments by taking steps to reduce your risks, resulting in lower healthcare costs. In addition, by adopting healthy habits associated with cancer prevention, you can protect yourself from heart disease and other chronic issues, which will further reduce healthcare costs.
3. Increased Productivity
Cancer prevention can improve productivity in various ways. By adopting healthy habits such as exercising and eating a nutritious diet, you can increase your energy levels, enhance your focus and concentration, and reduce your risk of chronic diseases that can impact your productivity. Moreover, by reducing the risk of cancer, you can avoid the need for extended periods off work for cancer treatment and recovery, which can cut your productivity and earnings.
4. Improved Mental Health
Living a cancer-preventive lifestyle can have positive effects on mental health. Regular physical activity, for example, reduces anxiety and depression, lifts mood, and boosts self-esteem. Eating a healthy diet can also improve mental health by providing the necessary nutrients for brain function and reducing inflammation, which researchers have linked to depressive episodes and other mental health disorders.
5. Better Quality of Life
Following cancer prevention tips can improve your quality of life by minimizing your chances of developing cancer and other chronic illnesses. By maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, reserving alcohol consumption for special occasions, and quitting bad habits like smoking, you can boost your physical health, mental disposition, and overall well-being. Best of all, you can avoid going through the intense physical, mental, and financial burdens that accompany cancer treatments.
6. Positive Impact on Family and Friends
Seeing how much you prioritize your health can influence others to follow in your footsteps. By making healthy lifestyle choices, you are setting a good example and inspiring your social circle to lead healthier lives. Plus, ensuring you stay healthy alleviates any stress and worry that loved ones may feel about your well-being.
7. Better Environmental Health
Did you know adopting a plant-based diet can reduce your risk of cancer, minimize your carbon footprint by 73 percent, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions? Also, avoiding harmful behaviors such as smoking can reduce air pollution and improve air quality, which is beneficial for the environment and public health.
8. Sense of Empowerment
Cancer prevention revolves around choices such as frequent physical activity, clean eating, and avoiding health-endangering behaviors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. That said, living a cancer-preventive lifestyle requires willpower and commitment. You may feel empowered after weeks, months, and years of continued effort. After all, you are taking control of your health and well-being, something not everyone can do in a world where it’s too easy to be sedentary and unhealthy.
9. Reduced Stress
Going to the gym, taking a stroll, and engaging in physical activities to minimize your cancer risk can also have a favorable influence on your stress levels. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins in your brain, which are responsible for improving mood and reducing stress.
To reap the health advantages of exercise, dedicate at least 30 minutes of your time engaging in moderate physical activity, five times a week. According to a research paper featured in Medical News Today, this strategy could prevent 1 in 12 premature deaths and 1 in 20 cases of heart disease.
10. Improved Overall Health
Choosing good lifestyle habits improves overall health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and obesity – all of which can increase your risk of developing a malignant disease. By prioritizing your health and wellness over harmful habits and temptations, you can improve your health and reduce your lifetime risk of contracting or dying from cancer.
Cancer prevention can have numerous positive side effects that extend beyond reducing cancer risks. If, however, cancer has entered your life, New Hope Unlimited can provide mind and body healing. As specialists in alternative cancer therapies for over 200 cancer types, we can create a personalized treatment plan that addresses the underlying causes of your disorder. Call or write to us today to explore your alternative treatment options.
