The beginning of a new year can be an excellent opportunity to focus on taking care of our physical and mental health, reduce the risk of suffering diseases, and improve our quality of life. In the framework of World Cancer Day, which is celebrated this February 4, Dr. Mauricio León, renowned breast health specialist and head of the Mastology Unit of our institution, explains what habits can help us to preserve our health and prevent cancer.

• Do not smoke or use any type of tobacco. Tobacco smoke affects not only the person who smokes but also those around them. It causes up to 17 types of cancer, including lung, esophagus, mouth, kidney, bladder and stomach cancer.
• Maintain adequate body weight. Having an adequate body weight and body mass index (BMI), as well as avoiding foods that promote weight gain, is essential to stay healthy and, with this, reduce more than 10 different types of cancer.
• Exercise regularly. Limit the time you spend sitting throughout the day. Physical activity includes exercise, but also other activities that require body movement and are performed as part of playtime, work, household chores, and recreational activities.
• Maintain a healthy diet. For the immune system to function properly, you need a proper nutritional status with a balanced and varied diet based on legumes, whole grains, if possible, and good quality proteins. Do not forget to consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption can cause at least seven different types of cancer: mouth, esophagus, pharynx and larynx, liver, large intestine (colon), and breast cancer. The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of developing cancer, and if combined with tobacco, the risk is multiplied.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, especially in children. Solar radiation is classified in the most dangerous category of carcinogens and is the main cause of skin cancers. Sunscreen should always be used before exposure to the sun.
• Ensure that your children participate in vaccination programs. Hepatitis B and C can cause liver cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes cervical cancer. The best way to prevent the impact of these diseases is to comply with vaccination schedules. All newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B, and all adolescent girls should receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. In addition, it is required to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients who have symptoms of this infection, as it is directly related to gastric cancer.
• Participate in screening programs for colon (both sexes), breast, and cervical cancer (women). WHO insists that all citizens should participate in screening programs for colon and rectal cancer from the age of 45, and for breast cancer from the age of 40. Cervical cancer screening should take place from the beginning of sexual relations.

Dr. Mauricio León
Breast health specialist and head of the Mastology Unit at Clínica Ricardo Palma