4 Tips for Seniors to Help Prevent Cancer

Out of all the fatal diseases, cancer puts the most fear in people’s minds, especially to older adults in their golden years. Health experts have yet to discover its definite cause, making it more difficult to find a cure and prevent it.

However, studies found a common denominator observed in almost 80% of individuals diagnosed with cancer—they all practice unhealthy lifestyle habits. So instead of waiting for a breakthrough in the medical field, it’s time to take matters into your own hands to protect your health.

Here are four medically proven tips on how to reduce your risk of developing cancer disorders.

1. Stay Healthy with Proper Diet and Exercise

Almost all of the best-assisted living facilities advocate for a healthy diet and regular exercise for good reasons. These two healthy habits greatly influence your health and have been scientifically proven to reduce your risk from colon and reproductive cancers.

Furthermore, adopting a healthy diet and staying active allows your body to develop a robust immune system, making it easier to prevent any malignancies from developing.

They also prevent you from developing other chronic diseases (e.g., obesity) that can trigger cancer. Some of the best practices include:

●        Increasing your fruit, veggies, lean meat, and whole grains consumption.

●        Exercising at least 20 to 30 minutes five days a week. Start with low-impact workouts, like walking and yoga.

●        Limit your processed food consumption.

●        Hydrate with water regularly.

2. Avoid Tobacco and Cigarette Smoking

It is no secret that tobacco and cigarette smoking increases your risk of developing lung cancer. The nicotine inside tobacco and cigarette also endangers the health of other vital organs in your body, such as your liver, kidneys, stomach, throat, and mouth.

In addition, you should also be careful not to become a secondhand smoker as this can also affect your lungs and might cause cancerous diseases.

3. Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Another dangerous vice you should steer clear of is excessive alcohol consumption. The high alcohol level in the body can cause inflammation and scarring to your vital organs, triggering cancer development.

Studies had also linked heavy and regular alcohol drinking to an increased risk of breast, colon, and rectal cancer.

The best thing to do is avoid drinking alcoholic beverages altogether, especially now that you’re in your senior years. You can also try gradually cutting back your alcohol consumption until you can finally quit it.

4. Get Regular Health Checks

Besides prevention, early diagnosis is also the key to fighting cancer. That’s why it’s essential for seniors in assisted living facilities to get regular medical care from their GP.

Your doctor can recommend regular exams and screenings to detect specific types of cancer during their early stages—for example, mammography for possible breast malignancy and colonoscopy for colon cancer.

Furthermore, physicians can also help protect you from cancer by recommending certain health precautions, like:

●        Getting vaccinated to avoid viral infections that can trigger cancer (e.g., Hepatitis B vaccine and HPV vaccine).

●        Recommending specific vitamins and supplements.

●        Undergoing genetic testing for those with a genetic history of cancer.