Cancer is one of the health conditions that many people fear, especially when it is discovered at an advanced stage.
Stage 4 cancer means the cancer has spread from where it first started to other parts of the body. It is important to understand that there is no single thing that causes cancer to become Stage 4. Cancer develops for different reasons, and late detection can give it more time to spread.
What can cause or increase the risk?
Some things can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer. They include:
* Smoking and using tobacco products
* Drinking too much alcohol
* Eating an unhealthy diet
* Being overweight
* Lack of physical activity
* Some infections, such as HPV and hepatitis B and C
* Long-term exposure to harmful chemicals or radiation
* Family history of certain cancers
* Getting older
Sometimes, cancer can also develop in people who do not have any of these risk factors.
What should you do?
* Eat healthy: Include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious foods in your diet.
* Stay active: Exercise regularly and try to maintain a healthy weight.
* Go for screening: Follow recommended cancer screening based on your age, sex and personal risk.
* Get recommended vaccines: Vaccines such as HPV and hepatitis B can help prevent some cancers.
* Know your family history: Tell your doctor if close family members have had cancer.
* See a doctor early: Do not ignore unusual changes in your body that do not go away.
What should you avoid?
* Do not smoke or use tobacco.
* Limit alcohol consumption.
* Avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation.
* Do not ignore unusual lumps or swelling.
* Do not ignore unexplained weight loss, unusual bleeding or persistent pain.
* Do not wait until symptoms become serious before seeking medical help.
How can you reduce your risk?
Nobody can completely guarantee that they will never develop cancer. However, people can lower their risk by making healthier choices.
Eating well, exercising, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and getting recommended vaccinations can help.
Regular screening is also important because some cancers can be detected before they cause obvious symptoms. Finding cancer early can give doctors a better chance to treat it before it spreads.
Most importantly, having one or more cancer risk factors does not mean that a person will definitely develop cancer. Likewise, some people develop cancer without having an obvious risk factor.
The best approach is to know your risks, take care of your health and seek medical attention when something does not feel right.