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Your first line of defense against cancer and disease in general is a strong, healthy body. There are a number of factors that contribute to this goal, including getting the right amount of the right nutrients. While you may generally have a healthy diet, however, it is still possible for you to nutrient deficiencies. But all is not lost. Below, we present four common nutrient deficiencies and what you can do about them.

A, B, C, Vitamin D

We all know vitamin D is vital to bone health. But did you know that your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium? If calcium is not absorbed into the body, it can collect in soft tissues and other areas, causing health problems. Signs of a vitamin D deficiency might include fatigue, and muscle weakness or aches. Long term vitamin D deficiency can actually lead to the softening of bones, which could increase the likelihood of recurring injury as well as other health issues.

Our natural source of vitamin D is the sun, specifically, UVB rays, and you should use it. Avoiding the sun isn’t in the best interests of your health. According to Dr. Mercola,

“…due to decades of professional and media misinformation, the typical American believes they should avoid the midday sun and need to use sunscreen before, and several times during, sun exposure.”

You have to be very careful when getting sun to avoid sunburn, which is very harmful to your skin, but it is not necessary to wear sunscreen constantly as it can block the UVB rays your skin needs to make vitamin D3. You can also get your daily vitamin D from fortified milk or yogurt and fatty fish, like salmon.

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that is very important for the proper functioning of all organs, tissues, and cells in the human body. Short-term deficiency may be caused by excessive sweating, vomiting, antibiotics, diarrhea, or chronic conditions such as eating disorders and kidney disease. Symptoms of potassium deficiency may include weight loss, constipation, and muscle weakness. In the event of a severe potassium deficiency, there may also be abnormal heart rhythm. Good sources of potassium include, bananas, whole grains, milk, beans, peas and other vegetables. Dark fruit juices, such as tart cherry, pomegranate, and black mulberry, are also good sources.

Calcium for Strong Bones

Many people, especially women, tend to have low levels of calcium, which is an essential mineral that helps maintain strong bones and control nerve and muscle function. Symptoms of severely low calcium include poor appetite, muscle cramps, abnormal heart rhythms, and fatigue. Get enough daily calcium by consuming at least three servings of calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt, milk, dark leafy greens, and cheese. Whole food sources of calcium are best, but you could also speak to your doctor about calcium supplements as an option.

Daily Ironing

Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, and thus, for transporting oxygen through the body. When a doctor tells you that you are anemic, it means that your body can’t effectively carry oxygen. This most often causes fatigue but could also cause dull, thin, sparse hair, and pale skin. Beef, iron-fortified cereal, spinach, lentils, beans, especially chickpeas, kidney beans, and white beans, and oysters are good sources of iron.

Combat Ready

Good health is on the front lines against disease. Your lifestyle choices make a significant impact on how well your body can protect itself from illness, including cancer. Your risk for cancer isn’t always just a matter of lifestyle, however. reveal23 is here to help you understand your inherited cancer risk so that you can make the necessary preventative decisions for the healthiest future possible. Visit http://reveal23.com/ to order our convenient testing kit!

Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases where some of the body’s cells begin to divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues. This general definition applies to a large number of specific cancers that fall under five main categories:

— Carcinoma
— Melanoma
— Sarcoma
— Leukemia
— Lymphoma

Carcinoma

Carcinomas are the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. It starts in cells of the skin or of the tissue lining of organs, such as the breasts, pancreas, and lungs, as well as the tissue lining of glands. As with other forms of cancer, carcinomas are abnormal cells that divide without stopping and may spread to other areas of the body, but they don’t always.

Melanoma

Melanoma typically starts in a certain type of skin cell called melanocytes. These cells make the pigment melanin, which tans/darkens the skin to protect the deeper skin layers from harmful effects of the sun. Most melanoma cells still produce melanin, so the tumors are often brown or black, but it is also , in which case tumors may be pink, tan, or white. Melanomas can develop anywhere, but they are most likely to start in the skin of the torso (back and chest) in men and in the skin of the legs in women. The neck and face are also common melanoma sites. If not detected early, melanoma is much more likely than others to spread to other parts of the body.

Sarcoma

Sarcomas are relatively uncommon and develop in cartilage, bone, and soft tissues such as fat, muscle, fibrous tissues, deep skin tissues, blood vessels, or nerves. Most sarcomas develop in the arms or legs but may also be found in the neck and head area, internal organs, torso, and the back of the abdominal cavity. There are approximately 50 different types of soft tissue sarcomas.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. Cancerous blood cells form and crowd out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. How quickly this cancer progresses and how the cells replace the normal marrow and blood cells are different with each type of leukemia, which is determined by the type of blood cell that has become cancerous. A patient’s prognosis and treatment depends on the type of blood cell affected and whether the leukemia is acute or chronic. Chemotherapy is a common treatment for leukemia.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is the name given to a group of blood cancers that develop in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s circulatory system and a vital part of the immune system. There are multiple types, but the two main types are Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Hodgkin Lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

First and foremost, it is not a myth or misconception that cancer is a devastating disease. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. There are common ideas about how cancer starts and spreads, however, that are often rooted in old theories and scientifically wrong. According to The National Cancer Institute (NCI):

“…wrong ideas about cancer can lead to needless worry and even hinder good prevention and treatment decisions.”

Factors That Contribute to Cancer’s Death Toll

Just looking at the numbers, cancer kills hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year. This is devastating, and paints a bleak picture, but it’s not the complete picture. The likelihood of a person dying from cancer has, in fact, steadily decreased since the 1990s. Plus, the five-year survival rates for cancers such as breast, thyroid, and prostate, are now over 90 percent. The five-year survival rates for ALL cancers is now around 66 percent.

These numbers are based on data from large groups of people, as a result, the percentages may not apply to each person. A particular patient’s prognosis depends on a variety of factors, including:

— Their overall health;

— Whether the cancer is fast or slow-growing; and

— How much the cancer has spread.

Does Sugar Feed Cancer?

Cancer cells do consume more glucose than normal cells, according to research, however, no studies have concluded that eating sugar would make the cancer worse, OR that cutting out sugar will shrink cancer. While sugar may not have a direct effect on cancer cells, a high sugar diet is bad for overall health, which may increase your risk for developing cancer.

Artificial Sweeteners Cause Cancer

At one point, artificial sweetener Sweet ‘n’ Low included a cancer warning about it causing cancer in laboratory animals because early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin caused bladder cancer. The warning has since been removed, however. Later studies have NOT provided clear evidence of a correlation between using artificial sweeteners and developing cancer (though it’s probably best to stay away from artificial anything in the interest of good health). The following artificial sweeteners are approved by the FDA and considered safe for human consumption.

Is Cancer Contagious?

It may seem a silly question, but this is a common misconception of cancer. Cancer is not a contagious disease. The only way where cancer might spread from one person to another is a tissue or organ transplant from someone who had cancer in the past. But even if that situation, the risk is extremely low and doctors avoid the use of tissue or organs from donors who have a history of cancer.

The Power of Positivity

While the National Cancer Institute (NCI) says there is no convincing scientific evidence to support the theory that a positive attitude promotes good health, helps prevent cancer, and even helps cancer patients more successfully fight the disease, we still believe staying positive (but realistic) is the best attitude to have. Just because there is no physical evidence doesn’t mean a person won’t benefit from having a positive outlook.

Herbs to Fight Cancer

There are studies that suggest complementary or alternative therapies may help patients deal with cancer treatment side effects, but there is no conclusive evidence that herbal products are an effective cancer treatment. Some may even be harmful if taken during conventional cancer treatment. Alternative options should always be discussed with one’s doctor.

Cancer Runs in the Family

Not always. Even if a family member had or has cancer, it does not necessarily meant that you will get it too. Only about five to ten percent of cancers are caused by inherited harmful gene mutations. In families WITH an inherited gene, however, multiple family members may develop the same type of cancer, should they develop cancer at all.

Be Well Informed

There is no need to go through life in fear of cancer. Leading a healthy lifestyle is your most effective method of cancer prevention and being well-informed about your family health history is another. The more you know, the best you can safeguard your health.

With reveal23’s genetic testing kit, you can raise your own awareness about any potential inherited cancer-predisposing mutations. To learn more about us or to order your kit, visit our website at http://reveal23.com/.

While research continues, there is compelling evidence that a diet filled with certain foods can help lower a person’s risk for various cancers and even help fight the cancer itself. Eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of whole foods is the way to go if you’re looking to optimize your health.  

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), you should fill at least 2/3 of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. Other organizations have additional recommendations. For example, the American Cancer Society includes the following dietary guidelines for cancer prevention:

— Eat whole grains instead of refined grain products (e.g., brown rice instead of white rice).
— Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
— Limit your intake of red meat.
— Limit alcohol to one drink per day (women at high risk for breast cancer should consider not drinking alcohol at all).
— Avoid processed foods.

Taking It A Step Further

Following the general recommendations above is step one. The next step is including those specific foods that provide the highest cancer prevention benefits. This typically means they are high in antioxidants, substances that remove and neutralize free radicals that can damage cell membranes, affect DNA, and even destroy cells.

The following list of cancer-fighting foods from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is a good start:

— apples,
— blueberries,
— cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale),
— cherries,
— cranberries,
— flaxseed,
— garlic,
— grapefruit,
— grape seed extract,
— radishes,
— tomatoes, and
— winter squash.

But That’s Not All

The list from AICR is not exhaustive. Research is continuously being conducting on the effects of certain foods, or compounds within those foods, on cancer. For example, City of Hope researchers have found some possible “superfoods” with cancer-fighting properties. These superfoods have the ability to block the hormones that support the spread of cancer, diminish existing tumors, and boost the body’s immune system. The five main superfoods identified by the researchers are pomegranates, mushrooms, blueberries, grape seed extract, and cinnamon.

The Bottom Line

The foods you eat may fight cancer both directly and indirectly. Many minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals possess direct anti-cancer properties, actually impacting cancer cells themselves. However, evidence suggests that it is substances working together in a person’s diet that offers the strongest cancer protection. At the end of the day, a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein will put you on the path to good health.

Certain foods are lauded for their antioxidant powers and we’re always told to eat more of these foods to help combat damaging free radicals in our bodies, but what are antioxidants and what is it they actually do?

First, What’s Up With These Free Radicals?

In order to understand what antioxidants are, first, we need to define free radicals.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI): “Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that have the potential to harm cells.” They are created when a molecule (two or more atoms) or an atom either loses or gains an electron. Free radicals are formed naturally in the body and play an important role in many normal cellular processes, BUT, at high concentrations, free radicals can damage all major components of cells, including DNA. This cell damage, subsequently, contributes to the degenerative changes of aging, as well as may play a role in the development of age-related diseases and other health conditions, including cancer.

Enter Antioxidants!

Antioxidants are the answer to free radicals. They are chemicals, also sometimes referred to as micronutrients that interact with and neutralize free radicals, stopping them from causing harmful cell damage. Our bodies produce some antioxidants to deal with the free radical problem, but it’s less than we need. In order to obtain the level of antioxidants we need, we must rely on external sources, like diet, hence the push for eating antioxidant-rich foods. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are rich sources of dietary antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E. Plant foods also have phytonutrients, which act as antioxidants.

Foods High in Antioxidants

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), conducted a detailed study and determined the total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements. Some of the general findings include the following:

— Antioxidant-rich beverages include pomegranate juice, prepared green tea, grape juice, prune juice and black tea. Beverages containing the LEAST antioxidants include beer, soft drinks and ginger ale, with drinking water at the very bottom with no antioxidants (though water and proper hydration plays a crucial role in good health).

— Among grains, barley, buckwheat, and millet flours are the flours with the highest antioxidant values, while the grain products containing the most antioxidants include crisp bread and whole meal bread with fiber.

— The majority of dairy products are low in antioxidant content.

— The average antioxidant content of berries and berry products is relatively high. Examples of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are  artichokes, dried apples, lemon skin, flour made of okra, dried apricots dried plums, red and green chili, prunes, and curly kale. Examples of fruits and vegetables in the medium antioxidant range are red cabbage, dried mango, dried dates, paprika, black and green olives, red beets, plums, and guava.

For more detailed information of the NCBI study, visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841576/.

Taking Stock of the Fridge and Pantry

A healthy diet is an essential part to a healthy lifestyle. If you haven’t done so in a while, it would be a good idea to take a look at what you have in your refrigerator and your pantry, make a list of what you have, and decide whether it is lacking in antioxidant-rich foods. We are what we eat, so if we want to BE healthy, we need to EAT healthy!

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is disheartening and overwhelming. Those feelings may never completely subside, but being well informed about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, may help you find a sense of control that could help you through such a trying time. To be well-informed, there needs to be good, effective communication between you and your doctor starting with your very first appointment.

Communication Is A Two-Way Street

Good communication is the foundation of a good patient-healthcare provider relationship and can have a significant impact on the quality of care you receive, but good communication isn’t only your doctor’s responsibility. Effective communication is about both giving and receiving information. If you expect your doctor or anyone on their care team to answer your questions, you must be just as willing to answer theirs. Likewise, effective communication is based on understanding. Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, your doctor may not be able to give you a straight answer to one or more of your concerns. This does not necessarily mean that he or she is not knowledgeable. It may just be that there is no easy answer or even any answer. However, if you find that your healthcare team doesn’t have answers much of the time, it may be a good idea to get a second opinion.

Which Questions to Ask

Knowing you need information is the easy part. Knowing what questions you need to ask to get that information is more difficult, which is why the reveal23 team would like to pass on this very helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions, courtesy of City of Hope:

— Can I get a copy of my diagnosis?
— What stage of cancer do I have? What does that mean?
— What kind of support do you have for me and my family?
— What are my treatment options?
— Which treatments do you recommend for me? Why?
— Would a clinical trial be right for me? Can you help me find one?
— What medical records should I bring to treatment?
— What are the possible side effects and risks associated with each treatment?
— Can anything be done to control the side effects?
— What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
— How long is it going to take for me to recover from treatment?
— Will I be able to go to school or work during treatment?
— What are the chances of the cancer coming back?
— Will I have more than one kind of treatment concurrently?
— How will my treatment change over time?
— How long will the treatment take?
— Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
— What should I do to prepare for treatment?
— Can I go to and from treatment alone? Should someone else go along with me?
— What can be done to help me feel more comfortable during treatment?
— Can a family member be with me during treatment?
— How will treatment affect my normal activities?
— Should I get a second opinion?
— How often should I have checkups during treatment?
— What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my insurance cover the cost?
— After treatment, what problems should be watched for? If I have questions during my treatment and my doctor is not available, who I can ask?

Never feel uncomfortable asking a lot of questions! It’s your life on the line.

We know that genetics plays a role in cancer risk, but this does not mean you have no control over whether or not you develop cancer. There are several things you can do to reduce your cancer risk. According to the WCRF/AICR Second Expert Report, there are, in fact, 10 major recommendations for cancer prevention.

1. Be lean without becoming underweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is actually the most important thing you can do to reduce cancer risk next to not smoking. Excess body fat doesn’t just add extra pounds and require the purchase of bigger clothes. Body fat acts like a hormone pump, releasing estrogen, insulin, and other hormones, which can instigate cancer growth.

2. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods and avoid sugary drinks. Most fruits, vegetables, and beans are NOT energy-dense. Being full of water and fiber, they’ll fill you up without the extra calories.

3. Don’t rely on supplements (in lieu of a healthy diet) for cancer prevention.

4. Be physically active for a MINIMUM of 30 minutes per day. The recommendation for maximum health benefits is 60 minutes of moderate exercise or 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. But even including brisk walking into your daily routine can go a long way. Also, limiting sedentary behavior, such as sitting on the couch to watch T.V. and playing computer games, is very important. If you have a desk job, creating a routine of getting up and moving/walking would be very helpful. Regular activity can help prevent cancer by helping keep hormone levels in check.

5. Limit alcoholic drinks to one/day for women and 2/day for men, if consumed at all. While prior research shows that consuming modest amounts of alcohol could protect against coronary heart disease, when it comes to cancer prevention, alcohol is a potent carcinogen.

6. Eat a greater variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (e.g. beans). The goal should be to fill ⅔ of your plate with vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains.

7. Avoid processed meats and limit consumption of red meats (e.g. pork, beef, lamb).

8. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with sodium. Both may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

9. For new moms: Breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months, then add other foods and liquids. There is evidence that breastfeeding protects mothers against breast cancer. Additionally, babies who are breastfed are less likely to become overweight and obese.

10. For cancer survivors: Be sure to follow the recommendations for cancer prevention after treatment.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Healthy Lifestyle

Generally, your health is what will determine what kind of and how long a life you will have. To put yourself in the best position to live long, avoid illness and injury, and have fun, dedicate yourself to making healthy choices everyday.

Last month, we discussed environmental and hereditary cancer risk factors. While there are cancer risk factors that aren’t always completely in our control, there is a category of risk factors that is totally within our control: Lifestyle.

“We are our choices.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

A Healthy Lifestyle Can Save Your Life

We make choices every day that contribute to our good or bad health and these choices can make it less or more likely to develop cancer. In addition, should cancer develop, these choices can impact a patient’s prognosis. A person who leads a healthy lifestyle and is diagnosed with cancer as a result of inherited risk may respond better to treatment and/or have better chances for survival than a person who leads an unhealthy lifestyle.

The burning question is, if preventing cancer is, at least with regard to lifestyle, within our control, why doesn’t everyone form healthy habits?

In some cases, it may be due to ignorance, a lack of knowledge about cancer and its causes, or emotional or psychological factors that impact lifestyle decisions. In other cases, it may be that the possibility of cancer is considered so far-fetched that people don’t feel the need to be more intentional about their lifestyle choices. Yet another possibility is that there are people that just don’t care. Regardless, cancer is here to stay, at least for the time being, with an estimated 1,685,210 new diagnoses in 2016 (National Cancer Institute), and studies prove that lifestyle choices are a vital factor in its prevention.

Identifying Lifestyle Risk Factors

If you can do something or avoid something and decrease your cancer risk, shouldn’t you?

Of course you should, but you need to know what those things are first. The below list of risk factors and recommendations can help you make lifestyle choices that can decrease your risk of a cancer diagnosis.

Alcohol – Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, and breast. The more you drink, the higher the risk. For those who do drink, limiting alcohol consumption to no more than a few drinks per week will help keep the risk minimal. It should be noted that there is no evidence that drinking red wine reduces the risk of cancer.

Diet – Scientists have studied many additives, nutrients, and other dietary components for possible associations with cancer risk and while studies aren’t always consistent or conclusive, there are certain recommendations that can be made about what you should and shouldn’t eat/drink. A well-balanced diet with mostly vegetables, fruits, and herbs, in addition to whole grains and a variety of proteins, is ideal. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) offers a list of Foods that Fight Cancer with those foods that have especially protective components, which you can find here: http://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/. In addition to what you should eat, there are also things that you should keep to a minimum, including saturated fats and sugar. This doesn’t mean you can never have fried chicken with macaroni and cheese or that hot fudge brownie sundae. But foods like these should not be a regular part of your diet. Additionally, as a general rule, natural is always better. Foods and drinks with more processing are worse for your health. Even within the processed food category there are those that have been more processed. “Diet” and “light” foods, for example, typically have been processed more that their regular counterparts.

Obesity – According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), those who are obese may have an increased risk of several types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, rectum, esophagus, breast (in women who have been through menopause), endometrium (lining of the uterus), kidney, gallbladder, and pancreas. Maintaining a healthy weight with proper diet and exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle, which, in turn, decreases your cancer risk.

Physical Activity – Being physically active helps maintain a healthy weight, improves and optimizes circulation, and improves the health of your muscles, bones, and even organs. It is especially important for those with more sedentary lifestyles, if you have a desk job, for instance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Adults aged 18–64 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity.” To get the most out of exercise, it is recommended to include a variety. For example, running by itself will not do as good a job as running while also incorporating other forms of exercise, like yoga, weight training, and/or dance.

Sunlight – While the sun provides us with vitamin D, overexposure to sunlight and its ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes premature aging of the skin and skin damage that could lead to skin cancer. Be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen and/or clothing when spending extended periods of time in the sun.

Tobacco – Tobacco products and secondhand smoke have many chemicals that damage DNA and are a leading cause of cancer and cancer death. We cannot stress enough that there is NO SAFE LEVEL of tobacco use. According to NCI, people who quit smoking have substantial gains in life expectancy when compared to those who continue to smoke. This is a no-brainer in our opinion. Just don’t do it.

When It Isn’t Your Choice

Even if we make all the right choices, we can’t control our DNA. Inherited cancer risks are still a reality, though the lifestyle choices you make can still impact how cancer plays out in the event of a diagnosis. While having a genetic predisposition for cancer does NOT guarantee a cancer diagnosis, knowing whether you have such a predisposition can help you make the best decisions for a healthy lifestyle.

“Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. These changes include mutations in the DNA that makes up our genes.” – National Cancer Institute.

In addition to the environmental cancer risk factors that we discussed previously, there are also genetic risk factors. Such factors are unfortunately not in our control as they are part of the genetic makeup. As you can see from the quote above, changes to our genes, such as mutations in the DNA of those genes, can increase the risk of cancer. But how do we get these mutations?

Inherited

One way we get these mutations is family. Inherited genetic mutations play a major role in about five to ten percent of all cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Cancer-predisposing genetic changes are not the “inheritance” you hope for, but it is something that you can inherit from your parents if those genetic mutations were present in their reproductive cells. Such genetic changes are called germline changes and, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), these changes are present in every cell of the offspring. Therefore, if your parents had cancer-causing genetic mutations in their reproductive cells, every cell in your body would have the same genetic mutations.

While this may sound depressing, remember that these are technically “potential” cancer-causing genetic changes. While they increase the risk of developing cancer generally, the level of risk is different person to person. Having a cancer-predisposing mutation in the family is not a guarantee of cancer.

Acquired

In addition to mutations that may be passed down from parent to child, cancer-causing mutations in the DNA may also be caused during a person’s lifetime as a result of exposure to carcinogens or errors in cell division. These “acquired” genetic changes are referred to as somatic changes and may arise at any time during a person’s life.

Genetic Testing & Early Detection

According to the American Cancer Society, “early detection of cancer through screening has been determined to reduce mortality from cancers of the colon and rectum, breast, uterine cervix, and lung.” But these screenings don’t tell you what level of cancer risk exists in your genetic code. Screenings, such as mammograms, are utilized to check for the presence of cancer itself. A screening may show that you are cancer-free at that moment, but will not give you the likelihood of developing cancer in the future. This is where genetic testing comes in.

If you have a family history of cancer, genetic testing can identify whether or not you carry known cancer-causing mutations. In fact, NCI asserts that “many experts recommend that genetic testing for cancer risk be considered when someone has a personal or family history that suggests an inherited cancer risk condition…” We do want to remind you, however, that the presence of such an inherited mutation does NOT mean you will absolutely develop cancer.

For more information about genetic testing for cancer risk or to get your own reveal23 testing kit, visit our website at http://reveal23.com.

Come Back For The Finale

We have one more article in our cancer risk factor blog series. Visit again soon to read about the lifestyle cancer risk factors that you CAN control.

Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1,685,210 new cancer diagnoses are expected in 2016. Additionally, about 595,690 Americans are expected to die of cancer in 2016.

With numbers such as these, it is understandable to have concerns over one’s health and future. Being aware of the risk factors associated with cancers can help you take the necessary steps to safeguard your health and to help protect your future. However, it is important to note that not all risk factors are under your control.

Generally, there are three categories of cancer risk factors: Environment, Genetics, and Lifestyle. In this three-part blog series, we will be discussing each of these categories, starting with today’s article on environmental risk factors.

Environmental Risk Factors

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI):

“Cancer is caused by changes to certain genes that alter the way our cells function. Some of these genetic changes occur naturally when DNA is replicated during the process of cell division. But others are the result of environmental exposures that damage DNA.”

One’s environment is the surroundings or conditions in which a person lives or operates. This environment is not so easily controlled. In order to change your environment, you would have to leave it, and picking up your entire life to reestablish it somewhere else isn’t a simple action. As such, environmental risk factors are generally not within your control, especially if you are not aware that you are being exposed to cancer-causing substances.

When carcinogens are in the air, water, food, or at the workplace, they are more difficult to avoid. In the United States, regulations have been put in place to reduce carcinogen exposure in the workplace, and continuing research is conducted analyzing the presence of carcinogens near schools and neighborhoods. Below is a list of known carcinogenic substances. For more detailed information about each one, visit
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances.

— Aflatoxins

— Aristolochic Acids

— Arsenic

— Asbestos

— Benzene

— Benzidine

— Beryllium

— 1,3-Butadiene

— Cadmium

— Coal Tar and Coal-Tar Pitch

— Coke-Oven Emissions

— Crystalline Silica (respirable size)

— Erionite

— Ethylene Oxide

— Formaldehyde

— Hexavalent Chromium Compounds

— Indoor Emissions from the Household Combustion of Coal

— Mineral Oils: Untreated and Mildly Treated

— Nickel Compounds

— Radon

— Secondhand Tobacco Smoke (Environmental Tobacco Smoke)

— Soot

— Strong Inorganic Acid Mists Containing Sulfuric Acid

— Thorium

— Vinyl Chloride

— Wood Dust

Carcinogen Exposure Does Not Mean Definite Cancer

It is important to understand that many other factors influence whether a person exposed to a carcinogen will actually develop cancer, including the duration and amount of the exposure as well as the person’s genetic background.

To learn more about how genetics play a role as a cancer risk factor, visit our blog next week!