To ask how else I can reduce risk of cancer ?

[iloveshetlandponies]

I just recently had a minor cancer scare and - thank god - after a long wait I've just found out that I'm okay. But I am absolutely terrified of it . I know one in two get it in their life time and that stat is beyond fucking depressing . I realise some cancers are sheer bad luck and nothing you can do. But I know some is lifestyle related etc

so want to try my absolute hardest to minimise my personal risk

This is what I do already

Intermittent fasting (16:8 but I try and aim for 18:6)

Eat at least 5 different fruit and veg a day (I need to eat way more I know)

I run most days for at least half an hour plus do other exercise

I don't smoke ever (Altho I did used to gave up 15 years ago at 29)

I very rarely drink alcohol

Always have smears when due and check my breasts monthly or so and keep an eye on any moles

Keep slim (8 stone 7 and 5 foot 2)

Always wear spf50 (on my face every single day) and any exposed bits of my body between say May and September

And - Don't laugh - but very cold showers at the end of each shower as it's meant to boost immunity (it defo wakes me up at least!)

I also, luckily, have no family history that I'm aware of

Does anyone else do this ? Or am I weird. And if there's any drs / nutritionists / scientists on here can anyone suggest anything else ?

I’m not sure if this reduces your risk of cancer but taking a vitamin D supplement through the winter months is proven to have health benefits.

It sounds as if you are doing everything right and should be focusing on enjoying your good health as much as possible.😊

I can’t think of anything else you could do except maybe a multi vitamin but probably not very related to cancer. It’s good that you are making steps to lower your chances.

Live your life and enjoy it. Death is coming for us all one day and we don't know when or how.
You sound like you are living a healthy lifestyle already OP
My Grandma lived to a good old age and had all her marbles. She walked every day had a tipple every night she always had her lippy on.
Words of advice from her. Don't worry about the unknown you will only worry more once you have thought it into existence.

That all sounds sensible healthy behaviour. The only thing I'd add is to work very hard on putting this fear aside, with counselling if necessary, because there's no good doing all this good work and ending up with a stress and anxiety related illness. Health is holistic and you need to manage all aspects, mental and physical, happy relaxed people are often healthier.

All of that sounds great. Some other things you might want to consider are vit d supplements, daily dose of fermented food and oily fish x3 a week.

Don’t eat red or processed meat.
Get enough sleep.
Eat lots of antioxidants.
Avoid air pollution?
Look up the blue zones - the places in the world where people live the longest. Some research has been done into the factors that are consistent around the world. Some are surprising, like sense of community/purpose.

Glad to hear you’re now ok, that must have been worrying.

I don’t know what cancer it was, but for bowel cancer, avoid meat with nitrites in. Like bacon, processed meat. Even if you’re eating plenty of varied fruit and veg you need to think about what to avoid as well as what to include.

I’m sure others would say to avoid other processed food, and reduce refined carbs, but not sure of definite cancer link.

But also, do enjoy your life and do everything in moderation. I’d say running every day isn’t ideal, though nothing to do with cancer - you need to look after your joints and pelvic floor!

Your grandma sounded awesome 🙌🏻

Yeah it was honestly torture and the waiting was the absolute worst

It wasn't bowel but I do try to avoid processed meats as much as possible. I do like the occasional steak or McDonald's but I do try to keep them to a minimum and hope my healthy lifestyle sort of cancels them out. Altho not sure works like that 😫😅

Cut out red meat and processed meat: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer/does-eating-processed-and-red-meat-cause-cancer

I am so sorry you had to wait for the results, I thought that if you had scan etc then you would get the results at the end of the appointment?

You could try drinking turmeric and ginger tea. Slice turmeric root, slice ginger, add black pepper and boil for 10-15 minutes.
Strain it and add honey and lemon to taste. You don't need to drink much of it, and it will keep for three or four days. Warm it up each time.

You’re doing a lot already.
I limit processed meats & sugar.
Learn to manage stress. Not because it causes cancer but because sustained stress causes inflammation in the body. If you do get cancer, you want your body to be in the best possible state to fight it.

Don't eat burnt food.

Ahh I've heard turmeric is good

I'll have to try this. And I sometimes make fruit/veg smoothies so could add some in that

No ..it involved a biopsy unfortunately and a long stressful wait for the results from that 😮‍💨

There was only so much they could tell me from the initial scan / investigation x

I was recommended s-acetyl-glutathione and quercetin supplements by a doctor for that purpose (I have family history of cancer). Both are antioxidants that help the body get rid of toxins.

Stop stressing about it is probably the best thing you can do.

I always cook with ground turmeric.

I think you are doing great op.

See this is the mad thing

I worry that how stressed I get actually could CAUSE blooming cancer !

There is a lot I have read recently about longer fasts, autophagy and cancer prevention , have no idea if it works but I do feel better after longer fasts

I honestly love fasting

I have been doing it since before Christmas (Altho I did have a week off over Christmas because cheese). And I have so much energy it's ridiculous plus I lost a good half a stone and it seems to be all off my belly and waist

My cousin swears by long fasts, she does 72 hours sometimes and does it for general health. Not sure I could manage that though 😂

Here is the thing… You will die of something and so will everyone you love. While it’s a good idea to keep yourself healthy it’s not mentally healthy to drive yourself mad getting obsessive about it because you need to remember to enjoy life. Everything in balance. Some cancers are preventable but equally some are just down to ageing, genetics and sheer bad luck. It’s sounds like you live a very healthy lifestyle so enjoy it!

Very kindly, while it’s great to lead a healthy lifestyle, I feel this fixation on it is unhealthy. Have you considered coming at this from an anxiety perspective? Although all of this appears as though it’s ‘control’ it will likely only feed your anxiety of it.

Im sure i read cancer can't live in an alkaline environment so an alkaline diet rather than acidic foods like meat and dairy