Cancer 8 Ways to Minimize your Risk The American Cancer Society recommends several ways to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Following these 8 simple suggestions will help to prevent many different types of cancer. 1. Don’t smoke or chew tobacco (lung, throat, bladder, kidney, pancreas and mouth cancers). 2. Eat less high-fat foods and avoid obesity (colon, breast and prostate cancers). 3. Eat more high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables (colon and many other cancers). 4. Respect the sun’s rays; use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher (skin cancer). 5. Get regular checkups (breast, cervix, colon, and prostate cancers). The following is a guide to how often you should be checked: Women: Age 18-40: Every 1-3 years: Pap test, breast and pelvic exams. Age 40+: Every year: Pap test, digital rectal, pelvic, and breast exams; mammogram every 1-2 years Age 50+: Every year: Pap test, pelvic, breast, and colorectal exams, and mammogram; sigmoidoscopy every 3-5 years. Men: Age 40+: Digital rectal exam every year. Age 50+: Colorectal and prostate exams every year. Sigmoidoscopy every 3-5 years. 6. Limit drinking of alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol, especially if you smoke or chew tobacco, increases your risk of liver, throat, and larynx cancers. 7. Get daily exercise (many cancers). 8. Observe Cancer’s seven warning signs: C hange in bowel or bladder habits A sore throat that does not heal U nusual bleeding or discharge T hickening or lump in breast or elsewhere I ndigestion or difficulty in swallowing O bvious change in wart or mole N agging cough or horseness *All information from the American Cancer Society