Cancer Prevention
There are not many things that cause the fear and trepidation that a cancer diagnosis does. Many people live in constant anxiety, having seen others in their greater family succumb to the disease, and knowing that there is a genetic link to cancer susceptibility. (cont)
About the book
(cont)
Alongside the search for a cure, there is ongoing research into what causes cancer. This is understandable because in order to prevent cancer we need to know what causes it, especially in seemingly healthy people!
As with many diseases, there is no one simple preventative action. Cancer is not like a bacterial or viral infection, where a specific pathogen is responsible for a specific disease, and can be more straightforwardly avoided or treated.
Many cancers are more and more being recognized as being on the ‘lifestyle disease’ spectrum. While genetic predisposition is certainly a factor, an individual’s repeated actions (lifestyle) have an undeniable correlation to specific types of cancer.
Many life choices have a depressing effect on the immune system as a whole, which further predisposes the person to higher risks of becoming subject to any or all types of cancer.
There are also cancers that can be triggered by environmental factors, and our environment is also a lifestyle aspect. Some of these can be initiated by a single exposure to the causative agent.
It can be both daunting and empowering to realize that, genetics aside, most of the biggest variables in the risk of contracting cancer can be controlled or at the very least mitigated by your actions, or lack of them!