Cancer is a big deal. What can you do to prevent it? This study looks at “modifiable risk factors” — things that you can change in your habits — which can lower your risk of cancer. Some of them are obvious, like smoking and sun exposure, but others you may not think about. They state that 44 percent of all cancer deaths in adults aged 30 and older are attributable to the evaluated risk factors. The biggest culprit? Smoking, which led to increased cancer deaths by 44 percent. However, the second highest risk? Excess weight, which they state causes a 7 percent increased risk of cancer cases/deaths.
One thing we do know: cancer rates are rising, and the age at which patients get cancer is getting younger.
This new study was published (July 2024) in the American Cancer Society Journal: “Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the US, 2019,” and shows you have control in reducing your cancer risk.
What are Common Risk Factors for Cancer?
- Cigarette smoking (but I think they should broaden that to include any vaping or pot)
- Second hand smoke
- Excess body weight
- Alcohol consumption
- Red and processed meat consumption
- Low consumption of fruit and vegetables
- Low dietary fiber
- Low dietary calcium
- Physical inactivity
- UV radiation
- Seven carcinogenic infections (like HPV, Ebstein Barr, H pylori, Hepatitis B or C, HIV, Herpes HHV8)
What did they find?
- Smoking, excess weight, and alcohol consumption were the top 3 risk factors
- Lung cancer had the highest number of cases and deaths attributable to the evaluated risk factors, followed by breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancer.
- They have a chart that discussed each risk factor and which cancer types they increased. Some are obvious — smoking increases cancers of the mouth, pharynx, lung, GI system (esophagus/stomach/liver/pancreas/nasal cavities), bladder, leukemia.
- Excess body weight increases rates of esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas cancer. But it also increases the risk of breast cancer, ovarian, kidney, thyroid, and myeloma.
- Red meat leads to colon cancer.
- For a full detailed list, go to the original article.
- Some cancers are due to risk factors — for example, they think 100% of cervical cancers are due to HPV infection. They think other cancers are highly linked to the risk factors. Eighty percent of melanomas and 94 percent of cancers of the anus, 88% of lung, 85% of esophagus, and 84% of oral cavity are related to risk factors. Ovarian cancer is only 5% related to risk factors.
They took into account the fact that during COVID, many cancer diagnoses were delayed. They compared this data to a similar prior study conducted in 2014.
What is the take home message? We at Biohackr Health want to improve HEALTHSPAN and LIFESPAN. Being cancer free is important to that. There are habits we all know you should do — don’t smoke or vape (and yes that includes pot) and eat well (less red meat/processed, more fiber/fruit/vegetables). Maintain an appropriate weight. Get vaccinations. Avoid infections like HIV, Hepatitis, and HPV. Wear sunscreen, hats, and sunshirts. Move. Exercise. Be active.
How Can Biohackr Health Help?
- Weight loss:This is a huge issue for many of us genetically predisposed to weight gain, those who are older, patients who have gone through menopause, or those who have injuries that prevent exercise.
- Semaglutide or Tirzepatide
- Probiotic promoting gut health and lowering insulin resistance, helping with bowel habits
- NAD+
- Come in for a full list of what we do to help with weight loss and weight maintenance
- Cancer screening:
- Do you have genes (like BRCA) that predispose you to a certain type of cancer?
- Do you have a cancer? Do a blood test with Galleri to look for fragments shed into the blood stream.
- Wear sunscreen and use products for the face and neck which help reduce or reverse damage in the skin. These antioxidants will help repair the skin.
- SPF mineral sunscreen
- Niacinamide (reduces skin cancers by 20%)
- Retinol
- Vitamin C
- Biohackr Benchmark: This refers to comprehensive testing in multiple areas to give you your benchmark for health: cholesterol, heart health, cancer risk, and status, etc.
We believe in being proactive and whole-body health. The better you are at age 50, the healthier you will be at 70 (and the more likely you will be to get there)
STUDY LINK IS HERE
