II. Epidemiology
- Cancer Prevalence in U.S.: 14.5 Million (2017)
III. Prevention: Lifestyle
- Modify habits
- Tobacco Cessation (most important risk factor in Cancer Prevention)
- Limit Alcohol to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Obesity is related to Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Renal Cancer
-
Exercise regularly
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes/day for 5-7 days weekly, at moderate to strenuous pace
- Reduces Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer risk
- Eat a Healthy Diet
- Plant-based diets are best (maintain 5 or more vegetables and fruits daily)
- Select whole grain foods over refined grains
- Limit red meat and processed meat intake
- Avoid saturated fats
IV. Prevention: Myths (Exposures that do not cause cancer)
- Exposure to power lines does not increase cancer risk
- Finnish study of n=8415 cancer cases near power lines
- Compared with cancer Incidence over all of Finland
- No difference found
- References
- Exposure to Cell Phones
- Does not appear related to Brain Tumor risk
- Long latency period however may require longer studies
- Retrospective study
- Brain Tumor patients (782) compared with 799 controls
- Inpatients from across U.S. surveyed 1994 to 1998
- No increased risk of Brain Tumor identified
- References
V. Prevention: Cancer Screening
- See Melanoma Prevention
- See Breast Cancer Screening
- See Cervical Cancer Screening
- See Colorectal Cancer Screening
- See Lung Cancer Screening CT Chest
- See Prostate Cancer Screening
- See Cancer Survivor Care
- Galleri Test
- Multicancer early detection tool screens for more than 50 cancers
- Consider in asymptomatic adults at higher cancer risk, including over age 50 years old
- Positive tests require confirmation with standard specific cancer detection protocols
- Risk of anxiety, possible False Positives and no established protocols in how Galleri Test fits into evaluation
- Cost approaches $1000 and not typically covered by insurance
- Pyzocha (2022) Am Fam Physician 106(4): 459-60 [PubMed]