National Cancer Awareness Day

November 7, is known as National Cancer Awareness Day in India. The day was marked as an important event by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in the year 2014. “It is high time we went into combative mode against this disease,” Dr Harsh Vardhan had said.

Types of Cancer

The major types of cancer are –

v  Carcinoma – Carcinomas are the most common kinds of cancer that develop in skin, lungs, breasts, pancreas, and other glands and organs.

v  Sarcoma – Although relatively uncommon, these originate in soft or connective tissues of the body like the blood-vessels, bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle.

v  Melanoma – These arise in skin pigment cells.

v  Lymphoma – Cancers of lymphocytes.

v  Leukemia – This is the cancer of the blood.

Symptoms of Cancer

While each type of cancer comes with its own symptoms, there are some that need to be watched out for and brought to the attention of a medical practitioner. However, one must note that the presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean cancer and it must be consulted with a doctor before making any self-conclusions.

v  Blood-tinged saliva

v  Blood in the stool

v  unxplained anemia

v  Breast lump or breast discharge

v  Lumps in the testicles

While these are only some of the severe symptoms noticed in different types of cancer, there are many other symptoms that must be watched out for. This National Cancer Awareness Day, let us join hands in making a firm decision to be aware of our own bodies and take any sudden unexplained change in the body as a symptom to be checked by a medical professional. Be aware, be safe.

Cancer Prevention Tips for Your Diet

To help reduce your cancer risk, follow these tips for eating right.

Tip #1: Maintain or Achieve a Healthy Weight

Excess body weight is associated with an increased risk for several types of cancer. By maintaining a healthy body weight, or losing weight if you have a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range, you can help to reduce your risk.

Tip #2: Limit Added Sugars and Solid Fats

Limit your intake of foods with added sugars and solid fats that provide a lot of calories but few nutrients. These foods include: sugar-sweetened beverages, highly processed snack foods and desserts. Calories add up fast with these sorts of calorie-dense foods, which may lead to weight gain and leave little room for more healthful, cancer-preventive foods. 

Tip #3: Include Vegetables, Fruits and Whole Grains

Nonstarchy vegetables, whole fruits and whole grains are linked with a lower cancer risk. It’s not clear which components in vegetables and fruits are most protective against cancer. So enjoy a variety of these foods as they are often rich sources of a variety of nutrients. Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits, and make at least half your grains whole grains.

Tip #4: Moderate Your Portions of Red and Processed Meats

Some studies suggest a link between colon and other types of cancer and red meat intake. This is especially true for processed meats such as ham, bacon and hot dogs. If you eat these foods, choose them in moderation. Enjoy a small portion of meat and fill the rest of your plate with vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Tip #5: Focus on Plant Proteins

Beans and lentils are sources of protein, dietary fiber, iron, potassium and other necessary nutrients. Other nutrient-dense plant-based proteins include tofu and tempeh. Eating more plant protein than animal protein is associated with a lower risk of many types of cancers.

Tip #6: Avoid or Limit Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is considered to be a major modifiable risk factor for cancer. Even a moderate amount of alcohol may increase your risk of some types of cancer. If you are of legal drinking age and choose to drink, limit alcoholic beverages to no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. (A serving of alcohol is considered 1½ fluid ounces of hard liquor, 5 fluid ounces of wine or 12 fluid ounces of beer.

Tip #7: Choose Foods First

Research suggests the nutrients found naturally in foods offers a protective effect. The same findings do not appear to be true for supplements. Choose nutrient-rich, whole foods and beverages as the best source of nutrients for cancer prevention. Talk to your health care provider before taking any supplements.