Cancer related cases have been soaring every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) expects that by the end of 2010, there will be around 15 million cancer patients in the world, while the death toll due to cancer related illnesses will touch 10 million. Undoubtedly, Cancer is linked to the lifestyle of an individual.

There has been a huge change in our lifestyles since the 1950’s. Back in the 50’s life was slow, as compared to today less hectic, people were far more active then and diets were healthy too! Indians have undergone a drastic lifestyle change in the past few decades. We now have cars which have greatly reduced our physical activity, an increase in number of smokers and junk food along with Trans fats have replaced our healthy traditional diet! Industrialization has seen pollution and free radicals enter our air streams and chemical effluents from various factories are making our water unfit to drink. All these factors are posing a very serious threat to our health, that of CANCER! Epidemiological studies have shown that 70-90% of all cancers are environmental. Lifestyle related factors are the most important and preventable among the environmental exposures.

Dietary intake largely regulates every disease and cancer is no exception. The increasing consumption of tobacco is exacerbating cancer illnesses. Smoking, besides leading to cardiovascular ailments, is also the root cause of lung cancer. Besides, smoking among young women increases susceptibility to breast cancer.

Likewise, oral cancer is critically linked to consumption habits. Obesity at an early age builds hormonal pressure in children. As a result, menarche in girls can be seen at a younger age, which, in later years, can increase the chances of breast cancer. Sustained nutrition and monitoring lifestyle habits can effectively contain the devastating effects of cancer.

Some of our current lifestyle factors, which can lead to Cancer

Increase in Sugar Consumption
Cancer cells need Glucose to thrive and with our increased sugar intake we are providing nothing but fuel to them. To cut down our risk of Cancer, we need to control our glucose levels by watching our diets, exercising regularly and through prescription medicines.

Increase in Salt Consumption
The recommended intake of sodium for any adult over 18 years of age is 6 gms, but our daily intake comes to an alarming 8-12 gms per day. This high sodium content in our diet increases our risk of Stomach Cancers. Salt consumption can be controlled by watching the amount of salt we consume in our daily diet and by avoiding junk food.

Junk Food
A major outcome of lifestyle changes experienced by India is the rapid increase in Junk Food consumption. Junk food, fast food, street food is all the same when it comes to excessive use of salt, sugar, trans fat and preservatives like MSG- used to add flavor, sodium nitrites-used to give color and preserve the food, Food dye’s or edible colors along with Potassium Bromate are known to cause cancers in humans when consumed in excess.

Unhealthy Diet
Our body requires anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes to fight Cancer, instead by eating out we are consuming more Trans fats, preservatives and other carcinogenic substances. A well balanced diet which will boost our immune systems against Cancer should contain more of vegetables (preferably green leafy vegetables) along with foods high in anti-oxidants and less or red meats and foods laced with preservative.

Dairy Products
Dairy products are an excellent source of omega -3 fatty acids and other vitamins which can rev up our body’s defenses against Cancer. However with our animals being fed with processed foods such as soy or corn to increase their milk or egg giving capacities, the content of Omega -3 fatty acids has more or less reduced drastically from our dairy products, exposing us to a higher risk of cancer.

Chemicals, Pollution
Industrialization has been responsible for the presence of chemicals everywhere around us. From Chlorine present in the water to cancer causing chemicals present in cosmetic products such as benzyl acetate, methylene chloride etc, we even have cancer causing chemicals, present in the air that we breathe, released by the exhaust fumes from our cars.
With the high levels of air, water and soil pollution we have in India, it’s no wonder that we have some of the highest incidences of Cancer in India!



Some Life Style Interventions to Prevent Cancer
Four lifestyle interventions can prevent cancer - Exercise, Smoking Cessation, Reducing Excessive Sun Exposure, and Healthy Eating.

Lung Cancer and Lifestyle
Lifestyle changes that can help prevent lung cancer include a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise, and smoking cessation. Exercise can also improve survival among lung cancer patients, and is also an important lifestyle intervention to prevent colon cancer.

Lung cancer patients who stop smoking have a better response to chemotherapy, and less chance of recurrence. The review of studies revealed that lifestyle interventions that include exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, and smoking cessation can prevent lung cancer, and increase survival in those diagnosed with the disease.

Colon Cancer and Lifestyle
Studies have shown that consuming more than 180 grams of red meat daily can increase the chance of colon cancer. Eating red meat seven days a week is responsible for a whopping 85 percent increase in the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Simply cutting down on red meat is a lifestyle intervention that could prevent colon cancer. Eating more fiber is also linked to colon (but not rectal) cancer prevention. Moderate exercise is an important lifestyle intervention to prevent colon cancer, and reduce incidence of recurrence. Colon cancer was also found to be lowest among those who exercise the most vigorously.

Lifestyle Changes and Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is emerging as the leading cancer in women. A large number of factors are identified as risk factors for breast cancer. Late age at first pregnancy (greater than 30 years), single child, late age at menopause etc are some of them. A high fat diet is also identified as a risk factor.
Physical activity is found to be protective for breast cancer. The sudden changes towards affluent life styles have reduced the physical activities to a minimum and increased the consumption of diets rich in fat. High fat diets during the pubertal age and obesity in the post menopausal age are risk factors for breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer and Lifestyle Changes
Obesity seems to increase the risk of prostate cancer. The strongest support from studies for prevention begins by controlling obesity in childhood and early adulthood. The best evidence found for lifestyle intervention that can prevent prostate cancer is by consuming a healthy diet to avoid obesity and excess fat, beginning early in life.

Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent Skin Cancer
Melanoma is the second most common skin cancer in young women and the third most common in young men in their twenties. Exposure to UV rays alters DNA. Avoidance of tanning beds and excessive sun exposure are the most important lifestyle changes identified to prevent skin cancer.

If we keep ourselves active, exercise regularly, eat well, avoid smoking and junk food and maintain a healthy lifestyle we might just be able to beat Cancer!