Change in lifestyle can help prevent cancer: Experts

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 5

Change in lifestyle can prevent 40 per cent cancer cases, believe experts.

Dr Devinder Sandhu, city-based oncologist, advocates lifestyle modifications to prevent cancer.

“Cancer is preventable (to some extent) and treatable (to a large extent). Cure rate varies according to the stage and type of cancer. It surpasses 90% in early stage and pediatric cancers. But a majority of cancer patients in India present to the cancer specialist at advanced stage with associated poor treatment outcome. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment in a specialised setting is essential to achieve better results,” said Dr Sandhu.

He said about 40 per cent cancers can be prevented by lifestyle modifications. In the rest, deaths can be significantly reduced by screening.

Tobacco use alone accounts for 5.4 million deaths per year globally, of which 1.5 million are cancer deaths due to tobacco.

High fat diet, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, obesity, less intake of fruits and vegetables, increasing use of pesticides, water pollution, smoking, alcohol intake, pollution, infections, are common risk factors for cancer. The protective food items include onions, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, soy, green leafy vegetables, potatoes, berries, citrus fruits, apples, whole grains and nuts, beans and other legumes and cherries.

Doctors stress on the need for regular yearly mammography after 40 years in females for preventing breast cancer, regular pap smear for cervix cancer, annual stool test for occult blood, yearly PSA for prostate cancer; in addition to regular physical check.

“With increasing awareness, more and more cases are being detected at the early stage with better outcome. Change in lifestyle by adopting healthy habits can help prevent cancer,” said another city-based oncologist.

Dr Navdeep Singh, oncologist from SPS Hospital, said to fight cancer, one should regularly consume fresh vegetables and fruits.

“The more we are moving away from nature, more and more diseases are coming in contact with us. We need to return to the basics so that diseases do not come near us,” he said.

Dr Navdeep stressed on regular tests for early detection of cancer.