04/02/2026
Today is World Cancer Day
The World Cancer Day theme 2026 “United by Unique”, places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.
Lets talk about prevention …first ...
‘’ I believe Cancer is curable. Cancer is a word not a sentence. We cannot let our human spirit die down. We have to take all steps towards prevention & must have HOPE to fight back with loads of positivity. Let’s join hands and work towards prevention first.”
I will share with you 8 tips to reduce your risk
1. Don't use to***co
Use of to***co has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney. Chewing to***co leads to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas.
2. Eat a healthy diet
Making healthy food choices can help reduce your risk. Some guidelines are --
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid obesity. Eat light. Avoid high-calorie foods, including refined sugars and fat from animal sources.
• Avoid alcohol. Cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver increases with the amount of alcohol one drinks.
• Limit processed meats - eating large amount of processed meat can slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
3. Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
Maintain a healthy weight and do some physical activity.
Go for regular walk, do yoga and meditation daily.
Adults must, strive to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic physical activity. You can also do a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.
4. Protect yourself from the sun
Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable.
• Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Stay in the shade. When you're outdoors, stay in the shade.
• Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loose fitting clothing. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.
• Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you're outdoors.
• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural sunlight.
5. Get immunized
Cancer prevention includes protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about immunization against:
• Hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are s*xually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, people with s*xually transmitted infections, intravenous drug users, men who have s*x with men, and health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a s*xually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical and other ge***al cancers as well as squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys aged 11 and 12. It is also available to both men and women aged 26 or younger who didn't have the vaccine as adolescents.
6. Avoid risky behaviors
Another effective cancer prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, might increase the risk of cancer. For example:
• Practice safe s*x. Limit your number of s*xual partners, and use a condom when you have s*x. The more s*xual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to contract a s*xually transmitted infection — such as HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the a**s, liver and lung.
• Don't share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase the risk of liver cancer.
7. Genetic Changes and Cancer
Cancer is a genetic disease. Cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control
the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. These changes include mutation in
the DNA that makes up our genes. So, go for regular check-up and take advice from doctors.
8. Get regular medical care
Regular self-examination and screenings for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix and breast can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.
Take cancer prevention into your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime.
🙏🙏
Seema Singh
Managing Trustee
HCP
