With the number of people being diagnosed with cancer now being one in two or 50 percent, it’s time for all of us to consider a New Year’s Resolution of implementing a cancer prevention plan. This resolution for your health would be a great way to start 2020 on the right foot.
If you visit your doctor on a regular basis for wellness check ups and not just when a crisis arises, this is one solid first step in the right direction. Your doctor will order all the recommended screenings at the appropriate ages according to your health and family history of cancer. And I believe in colonoscopies! I had my first at age 30 after giving birth to twins because both of my parents and many relatives had colon cancer.
Screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms, however, are not enough. Screenings help detect cancer early, which is important, but more is needed. Prevention goes beyond catching cancer early. How about, “Let’s not get cancer in the first place!” That is my wish for you.
One of your resolutions might be to follow my blog so you can learn simple ways to help reduce your cancer risk. It might be eating more fruits and vegetables, walking 30 minutes per day, increasing hydration, or eating foods that increase the health of your gut. Whatever you decide, make it doable, specific and practical. For example, “I will increase my consumption of fruits and vegetables to 8 – 10 servings each day and include two vegetables that are cancer reducing.” Once you make it a normal daily habit, look at other lifestyle changes you can add.
Now that the New Year is here, there’s no better time to put a cancer prevention plan in place. And if you live in the Upstate of SC, Prisma, Greenville Hospital System (GHS), is willing to help you devise a plan, if you are willing to participate in their research. Yes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Kudos to GHS for doing this—and it’s free! (Contact me for more information!)
What are some lifestyle changes you plan to implement this year to prevent cancer? My big lifestyle change for this year is working on improving my bone density. And I’ve got a plan. I’ll be talking about it in the next few blogs. As we age, bone density is important. Unfortunately, cancer treatments tend to reduce it.
Here’s to staying cancer free! This is my wish for you!
For Your Health,
Ginny
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