Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors

“I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured, it was the power from the Outer World, the visions and the ceremonies had only made me like a hole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish”

--Black Elk (1863-1950)

As human beings, we are given the ability to learn and acquire the knowledge needed to take care of ourselves. When we become sick or too weak to heal ourselves, we call upon higher powers or chosen medicine men for strength. Black Elk was a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux during the 19^th and 20^th century and he was well aware of this special gift the creator has blessed us with to receive knowledge and call upon strength when in need from the creator. One way we gain strength on how to take care of ourselves is through education.

“With education, you are the white man’s equal. Without education, you are his victim.”

--Chief Plenty Coups

Prevention \pri-‘ven-chen\ n: the act of taking advance measures against something possible or probable. (Webster’s 7^th Collegiate Dictionary)

Cancer prevention includes measures that stop cancer from developing. This involves identifying and avoiding factors know to increase a person’s risk of developing cancer, called risk factors. Risk factors are anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer, but do not always “cause” the disease. People with one or more risk factors may never develop cancer, while others who get cancer may have no known risk factors. This is where genetics comes into the picture. Race, age, and sex are all uncontrollable risk factors for developing cancer. However, heredity cannot explain cancer alone and other factors come into play such as behavioral practices. These are risk factors that can be changed such as cigarette smoking, dietary choices, physical activity and exposure to carcinogens. As much as 80 percent of all cancers are due to identified factors, according to the National Cancer Institute, and thus are potentially preventable. Preventative measures also involve taking measures to reduce one’s risk, such as self- examinations, physical screening and laboratory tests.

Important factors in the prevention of cancer according to the American Cancer Society are outlined and discussed below.

Healthy Dietary Practices

Physical Activity

Smoking and Tobacco Cessation

Avoidance of Occupational Carcinogens

Early Detection

Healthy Dietary Practices

One of the most significant factors you could do to reduce your risk of cancer is to watch what you eat. Your diet should consist mainly of vegetables, fruits, legumes (i.e. peas, beans) and whole grains. It should also be low in red meat, saturated fat, salt and sugar. Added fat should come primarily from plants and be unhydrogenated (i.e. liquid such as olive oil) versus hydrogenated (i.e. solids such as margarine or shortening) to be potentially beneficial. If a person would eat five or more servings of vegetables and fruits a day the overall rate of cancer could decline by as much as 20% for him/her.

Physical Activity

Being active is another critical factor to prevent cancer. Exercise will not only help you control your weight, but it will also reduce the incidence of colon cancer and, perhaps, other types of cancer. Research has shown regular physical activity during childhood and adolescence to slow excessive growth and delay early onset of menstrual cycles, which have been both related to cancer.

Smoking and Tobacco Cessation

Both first-hand and second-hand smoke create a risk for developing cancer due to the nicotine and smoke carcinogens. Deaths related to tobacco use account for one-third of all cancer deaths. It is important to realize there are two sources of smoke from cigarette smokers; the smoke they exhale (secondhand) and the smoke that rises off of the lit cigarette, cigar or pipe (sidestream). Sidestream smoke has a higher concentration of carcinogens than either secondhand smoke or the smoke that a smoker inhales through a cigarette filter. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke is a carcinogen and is responsible for a significant number of lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. While the amount of exposure to secondary smoke is a critical factor in the risk of developing lung disease, it is best to avoid smoke altogether to avoid the risk of developing cancer. Tobacco in any form can be carcinogenic because of the potent cancer-causing substance found in it called nitrosamine.

Avoidance of Occupational Carcinogens

Carcinogens in the environment mainly stem from pollution in both the environment and the workfield. These include low frequency magnetic fields from electric power lines, x-ray sources, asbestos used in buildings, radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation used in cellular telephones, proximity to nuclear plants or chemical-waste dumps, water fluoridation and even unseen, unspecified sources responsible for clusters of cancer cases within small geographic regions. In addition, avoiding the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. can help prevent the most lethal form of skin cancer, melanoma.

Early Detection

Effective cancer prevention requires screening by health care providers. Early detection will not only stop cancer from metastasizing or spreading to other parts of the body, but it will also prevent the cancer from reappearing. It is an important component to aid in cancer prevention and detection.