Cancer Prevention

Now that you understand how cancer works, it’s time to ask how you can stop it. Unfortunately, there’s no single measure to prevent cancer. In fact, your body is already using all the cancer-prevention programs we know about.

Some cancers are closely associated with particular lifestyle risks. For example, sun exposure is linked to skin cancer and cigarettes are tied to lung cancer. Minimize these risks, and you’re likely to avoid the cancers they cause. But many more cancers aren’t so clear-cut. They arise spontaneously and unexpectedly, after a lifetime of bodily wear and tear.

Your best bet is to detect the problem early. If you can catch a cancer before it metastasizes, your odds of conquering it are dramatically better. Unfortunately, many cancers have subtle symptoms that aren’t initially troubling. Some symptoms—like weight loss, fevers, swollen lymph nodes, or a feeling of constant tiredness—may indicate cancer, but are usually caused by something less serious, like an infection. And a few cancers (for example, pancreatic cancer) are virtually undetectable in their early stages.

To give yourself the best odds, you need to be eternally vigilant for problem signs. Some examples include unexplained lumps, persistent coughing, and blood in your stool. However, it’s best to investigate any unexpected change in the way your body works. It’s also essential to keep surveying the territory with breast self-exams, testicular self exams, a yearly physical, and regular colonoscopies after age 50 (or earlier if your family history warrants it).

Source of Information : Oreilly - Your Body Missing Manual