Cancer is the most common type of disease in the world, with all forms of cancer together infecting millions of people each year. While there is no way to eliminate your chances of developing cancer during your lifetime, there are some things that you can do that will decrease or increase your risk of developing cancer. Remaining cancer free over your life requires vigilance and attention to risk factors to ensure that your health is kept in tip top shape. Here are three risk factors that can significantly increase your chances of developing cancer, and why you should avoid them.
Family History
The first major risk factor that can increase your chances of developing cancer is your family’s history with the illness. There is still a lot that science and medicine does not yet completely understand about cancer, but one thing we do know is that a family history of cancer does increase your risk of developing cancer yourself. While there is not much you can do to avoid a family history of cancer, knowing your family history can help you be aware of your risks and encourage you to undergo frequent screenings to ensure that you are cancer free. Catching cancer early is the best thing you can do to increase your survival rate.
Your Job
Another major risk factor that many people ignore when thinking of risk factors that can increase their risks of cancer is your job. Many jobs, including but not limited to jobs that have hazardous materials on hand or required for work. You should pay attention to signs that indicate hazards in your workplace. By paying close attention to signage, you can understand the most important things that you can do to stay safe while you are at work and avoid chemicals that can cause cancer.
Smoking
And finally, the most important risk factor that is easily avoidable that dramatically increases your risk of developing cancer is smoking. Smoking exposes you to all sorts of carcinogens and cancer-causing chemicals. Smoking not only increases your risk of cancer, but also increases your risk of developing other mouth and throat issues, as well as increasing your risk of cardiovascular diseases. By quitting smoking, you are making a major change that will majorly decrease your risk of developing cancer.
Nobody wants to develop cancer. And yet, many people are ignorant of the risk factors that make it more likely that they will develop cancer in their lifetime. Focus on these three risk factors when trying to understand your personal risk of developing cancer.
Check out this article to learn how to check lab results online!
