February is Cancer Prevention Month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month in the United States. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Here is some helpful advice from the Prevent Cancer Foundation on ways to reduce your cancer risk or detect cancer early, when successful treatment is more likely:

• Know Your Family Medical History and Get Recommended Cancer Screenings: Share your family history with your health care provider and discuss cancer screenings.
• Talk to your doctor about genetic testing: If you have a family history of certain cancers, genetic testing may be recommended to identify potential risks. ECHO has leading experts who can support in this area. Click here to learn about ECHO’s genetic risk assessment program.
• Do Not Use Tobacco: Tobacco use (including cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chewing tobacco and more) has been linked to many types of cancer, including lung, colorectal, breast, throat, cervical, bladder, mouth and esophageal cancers.
• Protect Your Skin From the Sun: Skin cancer is the most common and the most preventable cancer diagnosis in the U. S. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation causes most skin cancers. Wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and seek shade during peak UV hours. 
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains, limit red meat and foods high in salt and cut out processed meats. ECHO is pleased to have a full time clinical nutritionist on our team who can advise you. Click here to learn more.
• Limit Alcohol: Drinking alcohol is linked to several cancers, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, oral and liver cancers. Click here for recent information about the link between alcohol and cancer.
• Maintain A Healthy Weight and Exercise Regularly: Physical activity is linked to a lower risk of colorectal, breast and endometrial cancers, and there is some evidence that also links it to reducing the risk of other cancers.
• Practice Safer Sex and Avoid Risky Behaviors: Certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) and at least four other types of cancer.
• Manage Chronic Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure can increase cancer risk. Work with your healthcare provider to manage these conditions effectively. 
• Get Vaccinated: Protecting against certain viral infections can help protect against cancer. Talk to a healthcare professional about getting vaccines to prevent the following: Hepatitis B can raise the risk of getting liver cancer. People at high risk are those who have sex with more than one partner, people who have one sexual partner who has sex with others, and people with sexually transmitted infections. Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer and other genital cancers. It also can lead to squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. The vaccine can protect children as young as 9 and young adults who were not vaccinated during childhood. Click here to learn more about the vaccine.

Most people don’t experience signs or symptoms of cancer until later stages. Don’t wait for symptoms and be vigilant about regular screenings. With routine screening, you can detect cancer early which is important, because early detection leads to better outcomes. Early detection of cancer can mean less extensive treatment, more treatment options, and better chances of survival.

Visit: https://preventcancer.org/ to learn how to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection.  Talk to you ECHO provider who can answer your questions or concerns.