Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Cancer is a challenging and overwhelming disease that can affect anyone, but by taking proactive steps in self-care and focusing on early detection, you can help to protect yourself and your family. Understanding the importance of lifestyle choices, regular screenings, and knowing what therapies are available in the event of a diagnosis can be empowering. Cancer prevention isn’t just about avoiding risk factors, it’s also about building a healthy lifestyle and taking charge of your health through regular monitoring and, when necessary, treatment.
This guide will help you and your family understand how to reduce cancer risks and outlines the treatment options available, including innovative therapies like Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.
Self-Care Tips to Reduce Cancer Risk
Cancer prevention starts with daily decisions about how we live, eat, and take care of ourselves. While it’s impossible to eliminate the risk of cancer completely, there are several self-care habits that can greatly reduce the chances of developing it. By empowering your family with these strategies, you’re creating a foundation for long-term health.
- Regular Physical Activity
Staying active is another important way to reduce the risk of cancer. Exercise helps to control weight, which is linked to a lower risk of several cancer types, including breast and colon cancer.
- 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly: Walking, cycling, or swimming are excellent options for staying fit and promoting overall health.
- Strength training: Building muscle not only helps with managing weight but also supports a healthy immune system.
- Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol Consumption
Smoking is a leading cause of several cancers, including lung, throat, and bladder cancer. By quitting smoking or avoiding it altogether, you significantly reduce your cancer risk. Similarly, limiting your alcohol intake can help to protect against cancers of the liver, breasts, and colon. Limit your alcohol consumption to moderate levels: this means up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Sun Protection
Excessive exposure to the sun’s rays increases the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Simple sun safety measures can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
- Use sun protection with an SPF of 30 or higher when outdoors and reapply it regularly.
- Avoid tanning beds completely and seek shade during peak sun hours (10 am to 4 pm).
Navigating Cancer Treatment: Understanding Your Options
If cancer is detected, there are many treatment options available, ranging from traditional therapies to newer, more innovative treatments. Here’s an overview of different cancer therapies, including exciting developments like Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.
Surgery Options
Surgery is often the first step in treating solid tumours. The goal is to remove the tumour causing damage and some of the surrounding tissue to ensure that all cancerous cells are eliminated. Surgery can be curative in cases where the cancer is localised and hasn’t spread.
Chemotherapy & Radiation
Chemotherapy treatment uses drugs to target and kill rapidly growing cancer cells. It’s commonly used to treat cancers that have spread or to shrink tumours before surgery. While chemotherapy is effective, it often comes with side effects that can be challenging, such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss because it affects both healthy and cancerous cells.
On the other hand, radiotherapy utilises high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. It’s often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to target tumours and prevent recurrence. Radiation is typically localised, minimizing its impact on the rest of the body.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a cutting-edge treatment that boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer. This type of therapy has shown great success in treating cancers like melanoma, lung cancer, and kidney cancer. Immunotherapy works by assisting the immune system in recognising and attacking cancer cells more effectively.
Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy
TIL therapy is a form of immunotherapy that harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight specific types of cancer. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes are immune cells that are naturally present in and around tumours. These cells have already recognised the cancer but are often not strong enough to eliminate it on their own. You can visit Moffitt Cancer Center to find out more about this key therapy type and whether it’s appropriate for your needs.
Conclusion
Self-care and early detection are two of the most powerful weapons in the fight against cancer. By adopting healthy habits, staying on top of regular screenings, and knowing the treatment options available, you can reduce the risk of cancer and increase the chances of early detection and successful treatment. Whether it’s through traditional treatments like surgery and chemotherapy or innovative therapies like TIL, the future of cancer treatment is brighter than ever. Empower your family with the knowledge and resources to take control of their health and protect against cancer.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
