Najja Hennix
April. 20, 2016
English 1121/D465
Research Paper
Small Steps
Having an aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and grandfather all pass away from cancer is scary. Having just one person in your life affect by cancer is heartbreaking. So imagine having four people pass away so close to you, it is heart crushing. One positive effect on having my family members pass away is that it changed my life. I have taking great steps to reduce my likelihood of getting cancer. This research paper will explain some of the small step you can take you reduce you chances of getting cancer. I will be speaking on making healthier choices, being more aware and looking after yourself, and getting involved.
Some healthier choices you can make to reduce your likelihood of getting cancer are to quit or never being to smoke cigarettes. According to the Oxford Journal Tobacco Smoke Carcinogens and Lung Cancer making is by far the biggest preventable cause of cancer. Thanks to years of research, the links between smoking and cancer are now very clear. Smoking accounts for more than 1 in 4 UK cancer deaths, and nearly a fifth of all cancer cases.
Tobacco was responsible for more than 100 million deaths worldwide in the 20th Century. The World Health Organization has estimated that, if current trends continue, tobacco could cause a billion deaths in the 21st Century. The main way that smoking causes cancer is by damaging our DNA, including key genes that protect us against cancer. Many of the chemicals found in cigarettes have been shown to cause DNA damage. When you quit smoking you reduce your chances of gaining harmful diseases.
Research has shown that poor diet and not being active are also key factors that can increase a person’s cancer risk. CDC: Tips from Former Smoker Videos says eating well is an important part of improving your health and reducing your cancer risk. Some helpful tips are to read food labels to become more aware of portion sizes and calories. Eat smaller portions when eating high-calorie foods.
Cancer.org says “Eat vegetables and whole fruits as a snack instead of potatoes chips. Limit your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit-flavored drinks.” Watching how much you eat will help you control your weight. The other key is to be more physically active. Being active helps reduce your cancer risk by helping with weight control. It can also help improve your hormone levels and the way your immune system works. All in all if you do not smoke and have a health lifestyle of heath food and active activity you can reduce you risk of getting cancer.
Another great step you can take to reduce you chance of getting cancer is to be more aware and look after yourself. Should I e Tested for Cancer? By H.Gilbert Welch says, “If cancer is apart of your family history you should get screened just to make sure everything is okay with your body.” You should know your body and watch for any signs of cancer. Checking for cancer in people who have no symptoms is called screening. Screening can help doctors find and treat several types of cancer early. Early detection is important because when abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread and is harder to treat.
You can also know your body and watch for any sign of cancer. One easy way to do this for woman is to give yourself a breast exam. The most common cancer in woman is breast cancer. You can help early detect by giving yourself a breast exam. The breast self-exam is a way that you can check your breasts for changes (such as lumps or thickenings). It includes looking at and feeling your breast. Any unusual changes should be reported to your doctor. When breast cancer is detected in its early stages, your chances of surviving the disease are greatly improved.
Lastly, the best thing you can do is to get involved and help reduce risks for everyone. Adopting a healthier lifestyle is easier for people who live, work, play, or go to school in an environment that supports healthy behaviors. Working together, communities can create the type of environment where healthy choices are easy to make. We all can be part of these changes. You can ask for healthier food choices at our workplaces and schools. For every junk food item in the vending machine, ask for a healthy option, too. Support restaurants that help you to eat well by offering options like smaller portions, lower-calorie items, and whole-grain products. Many people do not know about the small steps they could take to reduce their risk and have a healthier life. By speaking to just one person about this you are making a big difference.
This year has been really hard for me. With my grandfather passing away I felt really depress. I also became really nervous about my chances of getting cancer. This research paper has been a bit of a healing process. Not only have I changed my diet, I exercise, plan on getting screened, give myself breast exam, but more importantly I spread awareness of the small steps you can do to reduce your chances. If you take just one small step you can lead your way into a great path.
