World Cancer Day 4th of February

1. Do not smoke. Do not use any form of tobacco.

 

Smoking is harmful because it is the cause of three major diseases: lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and coronary disease. It has long been proven that tobacco is the leading cause of death from lung cancer in 90% of cases, in 75% of cases associated with bronchitis and emphysema, and in 25% of all cases associated with the heart disease.

 

It is never too late to stop smoking!

 

2. Make your home smoke free. Support smoke-free policies in your workplaces.

 

The impact of exposure to second-hand smoke is not less, and perhaps is even more harmful to the environment of a smoker rather than to a smoker himself, since second-hand smoking involves inhaling the smoke released from burning tobacco and the smoke exhaled by a smoker.

3. Take action to be a healthy body weight.

 

Excessive fat in the body may cause some types of cancer, as well as heart diseases and diabetes. Being too skinny or fat is harmful to health; you should always strive to be within a healthy range of body weight (acceptable standard = height - 110).

4. Be physically active in everyday life. Limit the time you spend sitting.

 

Physical activity reduces the likelihood of colon cancer development in men and breast cancer and uterine lining cancer (endometrium) in women, regardless of your body weight.

 

Perhaps for most of us, most important is to limit the time we spend sitting. It would be efficient to even reduce the time associated with watching TV while sitting, and to either walk or stand while talking on the phone.

 

Find an activity that is suitable for you and turn it into a habit!

5. Have a healthy diet:

- Eat plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits.

- Limit high-calorie foods (foods high in sugar or fat) and avoid sugary drinks.

- Avoid processed meat; limit red meat and foods high in salt.

 

 

A healthy diet mainly consists of foods of plant origin, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, some pulses (beans and peas), and whole grains. A small number of lean poultry or fish, and low-fat dairy products or vegetarian alternatives may be included as well. Equally important, however, in small quantities, are olive and rapeseed oils, as well as nuts and seeds.

 

To reduce the risk of bowel cancer and digestive system, primarily avoid processed meat and limit intake of red meat. The recommended healthy diet is not only beneficial for reducing the risk of cancer, but also for reducing the risk of other diseases. Healthy eating is delicious!

6. If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention.

 

Consumption of alcohol may cause at least seven types of cancer: cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat (including pharynx and larynx), liver, colon, and breast cancer.

 

The risk of cancer increases with the increase and the duration of alcohol consumption - remember this!

 

7. Avoid too much sun, especially for children. Use sun protection.

 

Remember to avoid direct sunbeams in spring and summer (from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). If you go out in the sun, then make sure to protect your face, neck, and hands, which are often exposed to sunlight.

8. In the workplace, protect yourself against cancer-causing substances by following health and safety instructions.

 

Mostly, the risk associated with cancer caused by carcinogens involves the development of the so-called "cancers of occupational origin" (lung, bladder, skin, as well as mesothelioma, leukemia, and lymphoma). The risk of cancer depends directly on the intensity and duration of exposure to carcinogenic substances, i.e., the more years a worker is subject to the impact of carcinogens, the higher the risk of cancer.

 

In the European Union, all types of asbestos, benzene, diesel engine exhausts, arsenic, and inorganic arsenic are recognized as carcinogens.

 

Do not neglect the safety guidelines in the workplace!

 

9. Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home. Take action to reduce high radon levels.

 

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that is released into the earth's crust. People do not feel radon, since it does have either color or smell; however, its level may be measured by special devices. Radon penetrates from the soil through the foundation and floor, and is also released from the building materials of mineral origin (granite, alumina, phosphogypsum, brick made from red clay).

 

Exposure to radon increases the risk of lung cancer.

 

Regularly ventilate the room and check the product components you use in everyday life.

10. For women:

 

- Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s cancer risk.If you can, breastfeed your baby.

 

- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of certain cancers. 

 

Women who breastfeed their children for a long time, have a lower risk of developing breast cancer later in life than women of the same age who did not breastfeed.

 

Hormone replacement therapy is a specific type of hormonal drug usually prescribed for menopause symptoms in women. If possible, avoid or limit the use of hormone replacement therapy. The use of hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer.

 

11. 

Ensure your children take part in vaccination programmes for:

- Hepatitis B (for newborns)

- Human papillomavirus (HPV) (for girls).

 

Few people associate infection with cancer, but almost one fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by infections, including viruses and bacteria. Among the most important cancer-related infections is human papilloma virus (HPV) which may cause cervical cancer and certain types of oral cancers; hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C viruses, which may cause liver cancer; and Helicobacter Pylori, which is a bacterium that may cause stomach cancer.

 

Do not neglect vaccination programs for children!

 

12. Take part in organized cancer screening programmes for:

 - Bowel cancer (men and women)

 - Breast cancer (women)

 - Cervical cancer (women).

 

 

Screening can make it possible to use less severe treatment methods because it allows to detect cancer at early stages.

 

Screening for bowel cancer is made by fecal occult blood test and / or colonoscopy.

 

Screening for breast cancer involves mammography for women in the age between 45 and 65.

 

Screening for cervical cancer is made by taking a smear (Pap test) from the cervix, which is examined cytologically in terms of the availability of malignant processes.

 

International experts say that almost half of cancer-related deaths in Europe could be avoided if everyone followed the recommendations. The European Code Against Cancer developed by experts, scientists, and other experts in the field of oncology to raise the awareness among the European citizens about effective ways to prevent cancer.

 

Remember! Cancer is not a sentence but a diagnosis! Timely examination is a chance to live!

We would like to remind you! The "Preventive oncology and the implementation of effective anti-tumour technologies in Lviv oblast" Subproject is intended to introduce the population-based screening program for breast cancer - mammology screening and for cervical cancer - cytological screening (during gynecological examination) in the Lviv oblast.

 

It is also aimed at improving the scope of services of the Lviv cancer service associated with free examination, as well as equipment for minimally invasive, organ-saving cancer treatment.