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Cancer Risk Factors

Cancer is a dreadful disease, but the fact is, one-third of all cancer deaths are related to a poor diet and lack of exercise. Even a few small steps can lower your risk of cancer:

  • If you're overweight, try to lighten up a little. Losing just 5% of your weight (for example, 8 pounds for a 160-pound individual) can decrease your risk for chronic diseases.
  • Limit alcohol consumption to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
  • Quit smoking and you’ll lower your cancer risk immensely. One-third of all cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking/tobacco use.
  • Limit your exposure to the sun. If you’re outside, use sunscreen, hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.

There's no way to completely guarantee you'll never be at risk for cancer, but by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can go a long way toward enjoying a cancer-free life.