How does cancer come about? How can we prevent it? This article explains it all…

Reviewer of this article: Chen Haixu, Deputy Director and Master Supervisor of the Second Medical Center of PLA General Hospital

When it comes to cancer, many people are afraid of it. So how does cancer come about? How can we prevent cancer? Let’s take a look…

Seven factors that may cause cancer

1. Cancer “sucked out”

Staying away from lung cancer is of utmost importance. Men and women should each be careful of one kind of "smoking". Men should quit smoking as soon as possible. There are many carcinogens in cigarettes. Some women do not smoke and are rarely exposed to secondhand smoke, but unfortunately they end up suffering from lung cancer because of kitchen fumes!

In addition, indoor air pollution cannot be ignored, especially formaldehyde, which is known as the "number one killer" of indoor environmental pollution.

2. Cancer caused by eating

The character "癌" consists of three "口" (mouth), which means that cancer is largely related to "eating". Common habits such as eating too much salty food, eating too much meat, eating hot food, drinking alcohol, and chewing betel nuts will increase the risk of cancer.

3. Cancer saved

Many people of the older generation are very frugal with food. They are reluctant to throw away moldy food or leftover meals at home. However, eating these foods frequently can easily cause cancer.

To prevent aflatoxin, be sure to avoid eating moldy food, especially peanuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, etc. Once moldy, they should be thrown away immediately. Developing a good habit of not leaving leftovers can reduce the intake of nitrite and prevent gastric cancer.

4. Cancer caused by laziness

1) Too lazy to exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to a decrease in immune cells in the body, greatly increasing the risk of cancer.

2) Too lazy to go to the toilet. Chai Li from Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital said that if you are used to holding your urine, it will not only damage your bladder, increase the risk of frequent urination and urinary incontinence, but also reduce the resistance of the bladder mucosa, easily cause urinary tract infections, and even harm the kidneys, stimulate the prostate, and induce inflammation. Studies have shown that people who have the habit of holding their urine are more likely to develop bladder cancer.

3) Too lazy to have a physical examination. Many cancer patients wait until the advanced stage symptoms appear before going to the hospital. By then, it is often too late to detect cancer, and the best treatment period has been missed, and doctors can do nothing about it.

5. Cancer caused by "endurance"

I have said it countless times, staying up late means staying up late! Staying up late can lead to endocrine hormone disorders, abnormal cell metabolism, affect the normal division of human cells, cause cell mutations, and increase the risk of cancer.

6. Cancer caused by infection

In January 2022, Pan Zhanhe, deputy chief physician of the Department of Oncology at Xiamen University Zhongshan Hospital, pointed out that "infection" refers to bacterial and viral infection. Studies have found that certain viruses and bacteria may be closely related to the occurrence of certain cancers.

1) Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases the risk of liver cancer.

2) Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the occurrence of cervical cancer, anal cancer, vulvovaginal cancer, penile cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.

3) In addition to viruses, certain bacteria are also related to the occurrence of cancer. The most clear and representative of these is the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and gastric cancer and gastric lymphoma.

7. Exposure to other factors related to cancer, including family history, negative emotions, age, and some occupational exposures.

Collect these 21 small details to prevent cancer

Pan Zhanhe, deputy chief physician of the Department of Oncology at Xiamen University Zhongshan Hospital, said that if we can change our unhealthy lifestyles and develop a good and healthy lifestyle, we can reduce the risk of cancer to a certain extent.

1. You must quit smoking completely. This is really a cliché. Smoking is the most harmful lifestyle to health and must be resolutely quit. Non-smokers should dissuade those around them from smoking and refuse the harm of secondhand smoke.

2. Don’t drink alcohol. If you can avoid drinking alcohol, try not to drink it. If you really have to drink, be sure to control the amount and drink it occasionally in small amounts.

3. Maintain a normal weight and avoid being overweight or obese. The body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters, that is, body mass index (BMI) = weight (kg) ÷ height (m2). A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal and healthy.

4. Keep exercising and avoid sitting for long periods of time. Sitting for long periods of time and lack of exercise can lead to overweight and obesity, and increase the risk of various cancers such as colorectal cancer. It is recommended that you get up and move around for 15 minutes every 1-2 hours of work, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, and exercise for at least 150 minutes a week.

5. Ensure the necessary sleep time, have a regular work and rest schedule, and avoid staying up late. Staying up late may not cause any harm in the short term, but problems will arise over time. It is recommended that adults ensure 6-8 hours of sleep every day. The key is not to stay up late. In addition, do not turn on the lights when sleeping.

6. Eat a balanced diet and don’t eat one-sidedly. Eat whole grains, meat, vegetables and fruits, and avoid or reduce junk food.

7. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. The varieties and colors should be diversified. It is best to eat more than five different fruits and vegetables every day. Eating less fruits and vegetables and insufficient dietary fiber intake can easily increase the risk of colon cancer. Eat more vegetables and less meat, and eat simple meals to stay healthy.

8. Eat meat in moderation. Eat mainly white meat such as fish, eat less red meat such as pork, beef, and mutton, and avoid or try to eat less processed meat such as sausages, ham, bacon, bacon, and cured meat.

9. Eat regularly. Avoid skipping breakfast, overeating, and not eating too much or too full.

10. Do not replace water with beverages. Do not drink or drink less sugary drinks. Boiled water is the best.

11. Don’t eat too much salt. Limit your daily salt intake and avoid or eat less pickled foods.

12. Avoid eating or drinking too hot food or water. Do not drink too hot food, drinks or tea in a hurry.

13. Eat separately as much as possible. Do not share dishes, chopsticks, towels and other food and daily necessities to reduce or avoid infection with Helicobacter pylori.

14. Avoid overwork. Pay attention to rest and combine work and rest.

15. Regular bowel movements. Develop the habit of regular bowel movements and do not hold back urine.

16. Avoid multiple sexual partners. Do not have promiscuous sex, minimize unsafe sexual behaviors such as premarital sex and extramarital sex, and use condoms as much as possible to avoid the spread of human papillomavirus.

17. Reduce or avoid exposure to occupational carcinogenic environments and take necessary occupational exposure protection measures.

18. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight. Sunbathing should be done in moderation. Too much is as bad as too little.

19. Stay away from anxiety. Learn to reduce stress and relax, and don’t be in a state of anxiety and mental stress for a long time.

20. Vaccination. To prevent and control hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, get vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine; to prevent and control human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, get vaccinated with HPV vaccine for people of appropriate age; and to promptly and properly handle precancerous conditions (precancerous diseases, precancerous lesions).

21. Have regular physical examinations to prevent illness before it occurs and to prevent complications after you are already ill.

Source: Health Times (ID: jksb2013)

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