Basics To Avoid The Four Deadliest Cancers

About 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year and about 500,000 die from the disease. Some cancers claim more victims than others, and there are things you can do to avoid becoming a victim. Here are the four deadliest cancers and how you can avoid them:

• Lung. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in America and will claim more than 157,000 victims this year. More than 80 percent of lung cancers are linked to smoking. Even if you don’t smoke, but live or work with smokers, your risk rises due to second-hand smoke. Don’t smoke and encourage the smokers in your life to quit.
  
  
• Colon. Colon cancer will kill about 57,000 Americans this year, but it is a highly curable cancer if caught early. Follow your doctor’s advice for screening. Since high-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles double the risk of colon cancer, switch to a diet rich in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables and add exercise to your daily routine.
  
  
• Breast. Although 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year, 85 percent of breast cancer patients are alive five years after diagnosis. The five-year survival rate rises to 95 percent if the cancer is localized, so early detection is essential.
  
  
• Prostate. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over the age of 70 and will kill 29,000 Americans this year. Although scientists aren’t sure just exactly what triggers prostate cancer, many believe it’s linked to a high fat diet heavy in red meat.

To avoid all cancers:

• Exercise
• Watch your weight
• Don’t smoke
• Eat a low-fat, high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Get regular check-ups and screenings -  But do your research on mammograms and others
• Consider genetic testing if certain cancers run in your family
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Drink lots of water but avoid plastic bottles and containers

Even the deadliest cancers can be conquered if they are caught early enough. If you have a family history of cancer, screening and early detection can make the difference between life and death. Avoiding known lifestyle risk factors for cancer such as smoking help you avoid the “Big C.”