World Cancer Day Reminders

World Cancer Day was on Feb 4th and I missed posting this post but I thought this information is so important it is worth sharing no matter how late.

This is the information I am constantly sharing with my Oncology Support patients but it’s equally as important for all of us.

Annually on February 4, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), uses this day to raise awareness for the toll that cancer takes on the sufferers and their loved ones around them.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. These abnormal cells can damage or invade the surrounding tissues, or spread to other parts of the body, causing further damage.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia - almost 50,000 deaths from cancer are estimated for 2019.

Cancers can be caused by a number of different environmental and dietary factors. Around one third of cancer cases can be prevented by reducing behavioural and dietary risks.

These include but are not limited to:

· Alcohol – The evidence that all types of alcoholic drinks are a cause of a number of cancers is now stronger than ever before.

· Excess weight – This has been linked to an increased risk of developing 12 different cancers, including bowel and pancreatic cancers.

· Diet and nutrition – Experts suggest that diets and nutritional intake, particularly diets high in refined sugars and low in fruits and vegetables have an impact on cancer risks.

· Physical activity – regular physical activity not only helps to reduce excess body fat and the cancer risks associated with this.

· Tobacco – Tobacco smoke contains at least 80 different cancer-causing substances (carcinogenic agents). When smoke is inhaled the chemicals enter the lungs, pass into the blood stream and are transported throughout the body. Currently tobacco use is responsible for around 22% of cancer deaths.

· Bacterial infections have not been thought of as cancer-causing agents in the past, but more recent studies have shown that people who have helicobacter pylori infection of their stomach develop inflammation of the stomach lining, which increases the risk of stomach cancer.

Over a third of all cancers can be prevented by reducing your exposure to the above risk factors. If you or someone you know would like personalised support to manage your health goals with a naturopathic and functional medicine approach, book an appointment online with me here or call my clinic on (03)59770117