But the cancer burden is also now disproportionately borne by women for liver cancer, melanoma, andlung cancer.
The reason why isnt totally clear, though its probably multifaceted.
But what experts agree on is that a persons lifestyle habits can also significantly influence risk.
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Indeed,researchsuggests as many as 40% of cancer cases are driven by modifiable risk factors.
Really, truly avoid smoking or using any kind of tobacco or nicotine product.
And its not just lung, throat, and oral cancers, either.
And things only escalate if you smokeanddrink alcohol, Siegel says.
(More to come on booze and cancer below.)
Doing both spikes your risk fivefold over engaging in just one or the other.
Thats because youre still being exposed to many of those cancer-causing agents in tobacco smokejust via different means.
Siegel recommends chatting with your doctor about smoking cessation products if youre looking to start that journey.
(While youre at it, check out our realistic guides toquitting smokingornixing your vaping habitfor good too.)
Make physical activity a part of your regular routine.
But theres a whole body of research linking regular heart-pumping movement with a lower risk of cancer too.
Eat more plants and less red and processed meat.
Notch down your alcohol intake, ideally to zero.
Separately, alcohol can spike your estrogen levels, contributing specifically to an increased risk of breast cancer.
But for some cancers, especially breast cancer, that risk starts withanyalcohol intake, Siegel says.
Thats why your best bet, for max reduction of your cancer risk, is to cut out alcohol.
After all, consuming none of a toxin is always going to be better than consuming some.
Stay up-to-date with cancer screeningswhich may mean going earlier or more often if you have a family history.
And on the topic of body weight… And if its feeling like a mammoth list, start with just one, Siegel says.
She sees each day as a fresh opportunity to make a supportive choice.
Its all cumulative, she says: Its all going to help.
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