Cancer Prevention and Eating Well

Cancer prevention is a hot topic. According to the American Cancer Society, 4 out of 10 cancers can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. But what does that mean? Is it spending hours at the gym and eating only salads? No. It’s much easier. It’s making small choices in your day to day activities that will result in a healthier you! This will help lower your chances of cancer, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Follow the tips below to get started on a new and healthy you!

Regular exercise:

• Walk during lunch
• Walk the dog
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park furthest from the building

Eat Healthy:

• Avoid sugary drinks, breakfast cereals and pre-packaged foods. Did you know the average person takes in 22 teaspoons of added sugar each day? The American Heart Association says our daily target should be no more than 6 level teaspoons for women and 9 for men. This includes sugar in both food and beverages.
• Be aware of the size of your portion.
• Include whole grains, beans, fresh vegetables, fruits and lean chicken and fish. Avoid processed meats including bacon and hot dogs.
• Choose healthy fats like olive oil over butter and fish over red meat.

Avoid tobacco products

• It takes courage to quit smoking as we know it is not an easy journey. But the benefits far outweigh the challenge. And what a gift it will be to your family and friends to not smell secondhand smoke. If you need help, ask your doctor about medication or products that may help cut back your urge to smoke. Or you can call NC Quit Line at 800-784-8669 for free assistance.

Protect yourself from the sun

• Wear sunscreen
• Avoid tanning beds

Get your immunizations

• Hepatitis B
• HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys ages 11 and 12. It is also available to both men and women age 26 or younger who failed to have the vaccine as an adolescent.

Most importantly you should get regular screenings for skin, colon, cervical and breast cancer. When cancer is found early, your treatment is likely to be successful.

Interested in learning more about cancer? Check with your local healthcare provider or the Raab Cancer Center at Carteret Health Care. You can also attend “Cancer Conversations,” a monthly educational webinar series that Carteret Health Care hosts in partnership with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The program is free and open to the general public. This is just another way that Carteret Health Care and UNC Lineberger are working together to ensure you have quality cancer care delivered in in your own community.

The next Cancer Conversations will focus on Cancer Myths and Facts.

Date: July 27th, 2018

Time: 12 -1 pm

Location: Carteret Health Care’s Cancer Center in Meeting Room 1

Register: Call (252) 499-6200