Four out of ten cancers can be prevented through lifestyle changes. Beyond diet and exercise, here are five simple — yet often overlooked — ways to help reduce your risk.
1. Wear sunscreen and protect your skin from the sun.
• About 90% of skin cancers are linked to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation which comes from the sun or tanning beds.
• More than half (54%) of melanoma cases — the deadliest form of skin cancer — in B.C. are linked to UV radiation.
• However, a study found that 64% of Canadian adults rarely or never used sunscreen on their bodies and 58% did not use it on their faces.
• People who work outside are at the highest risk. About 238,000 people in B.C. are exposed to UV radiation from the sun while at work.
• Other sun safety tips include checking the UV Index forecast.
2. Understand your exposure to radon and indoor/outdoor air pollution.
• Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that comes from soil and rocks. It is the main cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
• High radon levels can be found all over B.C. They are more common in the Interior and the North because of geological factors (33% of homes in the Interior and 22% in the North had radon levels above the Canadian guideline).
• Testing for radon is easy through a do-it-yourself test kit or by hiring a professional.
• Indoor air quality can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air.
3. Understand your exposure to known carcinogens at work.
• The most common workplace cancer-causing agents are UV radiation, night shift work, gasoline and diesel exhaust.
• Other workplace carcinogens include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), crystalline silica, wood dust, second-hand smoke, benzene and welding fumes.
• Industries such as construction, transportation, warehousing, manufacturing and agriculture are most at risk.
• In 2011, researchers linked about 1,030 cancer cases in B.C. to work-related exposures. This includes lung, skin, breast and bladder cancers.
4. Prevent HPV and hepatitis B infections.
• Approximately 3.7% of cancer cases in Canadian adults are linked to infections. Among these, human papillomavirus (HPV) accounts for just over half (51%) of these cases, and hepatitis B for about 8.8%.
• HPV is linked to almost all cervical cancers. It is also linked to other cancers, like anal, vaginal, vulvar, and head and neck cancers.
• Effective ways to prevent HPV and hepatitis B infections include getting vaccinated and practicing safe sex, like using condoms.
• BC Cancer provides a cervical self-screening kit that can help find HPV-related cancer early when it’s highly treatable. Learn more.
5. Drink less alcohol.
• Alcohol leads to the development of at least nine types of cancer including mouth, throat, breast, colon and liver cancer.
• Alcohol is linked to nearly 7,000 cancer cases each year in Canada.
• British Columbians drink an average of 9.2 standard drinks each week. This is much higher than the level linked to low cancer risk, which is 2 drinks a week.
• Learn more about how alcohol causes cancer including six tips to avoid alcohol and reduce your risk.
