Although the idea of cancer prevention has been around for more than a decade, some may hear about cancer preventatives such as cancer vaccines and wonder, “Is it really safe?” The truth is that cancer preventions range from diet and exercise changes to colonoscopies to cancer vaccines (such as the HPV vaccine). Each method of cancer prevention has their pros and cons. However, the most important thing is working with your doctor to develop the prevention plan that is best for you.

Some cancer prevention strategies, such as diet alterations and exercise can not only be considered safe, but also beneficial to your overall health. Concerning diet, it is suggested to have a diet that is plentiful in fruits and vegetables and limit your consumption of saturated fats like those found in red meats. [1] Regularly exercising to keep fit or improve fitness is also recommended, as it improves your cardiovascular and immune health, which is crucial to helping your body prevent cancer. [2]

Another form of cancer prevention is regular screening, as it makes it possible for doctors to identify pre-cancerous cells, such as with a mammogram or colonoscopy. Doing these preventative screenings enables doctors to identify and remove pre-cancerous cells before they have a chance to develop into cancer. The downside to this is that sometimes these screenings, such as colonoscopies, require that you undergo sedation or have an x-ray done, as with a mammogram. [3]

A newer form of cancer prevention screening is genetic testing. Modern science has identified a handful of gene mutations that are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. A common example this is the BRCA1/2 gene mutations, which are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing breast and uterine cancer. Identifying mutations such as these allows for patients to work with their doctors to come up with an even better, more specific prevention strategy. As in the case of BRCA1/2 mutations, this may include a preventative mastectomy or hysterectomy. However, the downside to genetic testing is that some people don’t wish to know what genetic risk factors they have, and even though knowing their genetic mutations can allow them to receive more personalized prevention strategies, at the end of the day, they cannot change their genes. Not only this, if they discover that they have a mutation associated with cancer, they will also have to decide if they would like to tell their family and encourage them to get genetically tested, as mutations can often be inherited. Despite this, many people still pursue genetic testing as it can lead to life-saving discoveries by allowing for people to get a step ahead of cancer. [4]

From diet and exercise to colonoscopies and genetic testing, cancer prevention can take many forms, and each has its own risks and benefits. Before making any decisions, you should talk with your doctor, and come up with a cancer prevention plan that best fits your needs and lifestyle.

References

1.     Gilmerm. Can a healthy diet prevent cancer? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-a-healthy-diet-prevent-cancer/ (accessed Nov 20, 2021).

2.     Physical activity and cancer fact sheet. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet (accessed Nov 20, 2021).

3.     Cancer screening tests. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/screening.htm (accessed Nov 29, 2021).

4.     Understanding genetic testing for cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/understanding-genetic-testing-for-cancer.html (accessed Nov 20, 2021).

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