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 ?

There are much worse illnesses than cancer. Why ruin your life worrying about it? Just accept whatever comes your way and stop stressing about "reducing the risk".

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. J however, my DGM lived to 90 and did no formal exercise but walked everyday as never drove. She smoked many years , had 6 chn, loved butter and fatty meat and ate quite traditional Irish food- meat and two veg. I think your time is up when it’s up!

It definitely is

And I'm actually having counselling to deal with the health anxiety

I don't think I'll ever not be absolutely horrified of the thought of cancer or be able to deal with it if it does happens though ...so I want to reduce risk as much as possible

And be fit enough to hopefully fight it if I get it (Altho I hate that term, "fighting cancer", people can fight as hard as they want but I really think it's down to luck if they survive)

once a month, do a longer fast (36hrs)

avoid UPF

Avoid industrial seed oils (sunflower, rape seed, ‘vegetable) - I am pretty sure the studies that are coming out on their links to cancer are right. Ever since we all ditched animal fats….cancer has exploded and they have demonstrated a clear mechanism as to how they cause inflammation.

Also, moderate drinkers live longer than tea totallers!

I think this is really sensible and people might say death is coming for us all but you’re doing all you can to help reduce your risk and that’s sensible in my viewpoint as none of these things are really impacting negatively on your life. Just sensible things to do to minimise the risk or catch anything early.

It sounds like you are doing great.

But, and not in any way to disparage you or minimise your anxiety, I think people do slightly oversell the benefits of lifestyle changes which pretty make a pretty marginal difference to the overall risk.

The big ones are tobacco, alcohol, exercise and diet. If you can live tobacco free, no or low alcohol, eat a healthy diet and exercise, you are covering the basics that you can control.

Beyond that the tangible benefits are pretty minimal and hard to quantify.

Aside from tobacco and alcohol the biggest risk factor for cancer is age. You can’t do anything about that. Nor can you help your genes.

Cold showers and eating turmeric etc won’t do you any harm but I wouldn’t over-invest in the health benefits of these things unless you want to do them anyway. Not stressing about it too much is probably better for you than eating turmeric.

My uncle said the same thing. Plus always keep moving, don’t be lazy as that’s when things happen to you.

You can get books on anticancer lifestyles. I have had cancer and try to follow the advice given. Lots of foods are naturally anti-cancer such as green tea, turmeric, broccoli (and lots of others). I also found that most perfumes are quite carcinogenic, hair dyes too (now I use a dark brown henna instead). I switched deodorant to a more natural one.

Kindly OP, you can't. Cancer isn't that simple, yes there are lifestyle factors in some cancers but it's not as simple as cause and effect.

You cannot prevent or treat cancer with broccoli, apple cider vinegar, turmeric or any of those other things. If you could the NHS would prescribe it, they'd save a fortune as chemo and immunotherapy are expensive.

I am not an oncologist but I work in a related field. I have known literal professional athletes at the peak of physical fitness gets cancer. I've known cancer professionals get cancer. We can all do our best to look after ourselves, but that's no guarantee. Would you be open to looking at your (totally understandable) anxiety, rather than focussing on this stuff?

So I do nothing to prevent cancer and I’ve had it once!

I am enjoying my life as much as I can, thanking my lucky starts I survived cancer when I was 31 years and I’m 50 this year. My eldest dc was 3 years, now they are in their 3rd year at university so I do feel fortunate.

I probably should do more for my health but life has to be lived!

If I was stronger willed I would avoid ultra processed foods.

Only other things I can think of are -

Avoid processed Meats
Eat and drink anti oxidants eg green tea
Eat and drink things that are good for your gut health eg fermented foods

Widely debated but my family all believe in keeping the body alkaline. Basically put - Cancer thrives in an acidic environment.

None of us have had cancer.

Further reading here -

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9364696/

And benefit is of taking bicarbonate of soda in water every day -

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7249593/

@SallyWD good point on cosmetics and hygiene products.

Most are known to be toxic for us. Johnson’s baby powder is still available to buy in the uk despite it being a proven carcinogen and banned in the US.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/business/media/johnson-johnson-talc-settlement.html

Don’t smoke
Limit alcohol
Don’t get obese
Exercise
Eat a Mediterranean diet.

I think the ingredients have now been changed? It certainly feels different these days

Watch 'What the Health' on Netflix, very interesting- basically about the benefits of a whole food plant based diet.

My friend is exceptionally health conscious in her late 30s.
She found she had breast cancer last year - it turned out it stemmed from a gene on her dad's side of the family. Had she known before about the possibility she could have taken medical action but no one knew. Its good to take your health seriously but you can't live your life obsessing about what might happen.

It’s all about berries for me, I eat loads of them and a tonne of other fruit and veg.

I don’t drink and sodas and try and avoid sugar free food and processed food as much as possible.

I have had skin cancer many times so I am really careful with my skin and attend the hospital every three months for a check up.

Floss and regular dental appointments.

Check your breast frequently (breast cancers risk is highest 40-50 as per my doctor); schedule annual health assessments. Make sure you eat 15-30g fibre per day.

I found out recently that the highest risk factors for cancer are obesity and smoking.
If you're losing weight and don't smoke, you're already massively reducing your risk.

That said, I think you need to focus more time and energy on reducing your anxiety around things you can't necessarily control.

Two ways of looking at it:
If you got cancer, it would be shit, but you'd cope and you'd get through it.
If you got cancer, it would be absolutely devastating and your life would essentially be over.

Two drastically different mindsets there. I know which creates the least anxiety.

That's awful

Similar happened to my friend a few years ago, absolutely fit as a fiddle, a runner, slim, early 40s, healthcare worker , got breast cancer . Honestly it sounds awful but her getting it was one of the things that has triggered this off . She is okay now 🙏 thank goodness but turned out her cancer was a hormonal related one so she also had to have a hysterectomy 😢.

I don't know how true it is but black seed oil is supposed to be good. A friend of mines husband is Albanian and her in laws are very old fashioned etc and they all believe black seed oil cure everything.... again not sure about it but she uses it for migraine aches and pains etc so I started taking it recently xxx

It seems you are already doing a lot to reduce the risk factors.
Have you also looked into your diet, aside from fasting? I would investigate proportion of UPF, impact of organic, reduction of meat consumption etc

Live your life and enjoy it. Death is coming for us all one day and we don't know when or how.
If your lifestyle makes you feel contented that is great, but no life choices can ensure you will avoid cancer. What if you develop MND or another neurological condition? Concentrate on eradicating your health anxiety and go and grab life while you can.