A Proactive Approach to Cancer Prevention

ALLERGIES & SPECIAL DIETS, DISEASE PREVENTION & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE / WRITTEN BY FROM INSPIREHEALTH

Disease prevention and integrated cancer care makes sense from both a personal and societal perspective. Prevention can dramatically reduce the incidence of cancer; integrated cancer care has the potential to improve patient outcomes and provide a practical cost-effective solution to the challenge of rapidly growing conventional cancer treatment costs. This model should never serve as a complete replacement for conventional chemotherapy and radiation, rather as an adjunct or complement to existing cancer treatments.

Integrated cancer care focuses on healthy lifestyle by engaging people in their own healthcare through nutrition, exercise and emotional and spiritual support, in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment. Patients improve their quality of life, decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and increase survival.

Interest in integrated cancer care is growing as increasing clinical research substantiates its effectiveness. Sadly, cancer prevention information and integrated cancer care options are not mainstreamknowledge. As recent research shows, only five per cent of North American cancer survivors aremeeting experts’ recommendations on diet, physical activity and quitting smoking.

Top 10 Tips for Cancer Prevention
  1. Eat a Healthy Diet. Eat at least six servings of fresh fruits and veggies each day and eat less red meat.
  2. Take Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation reduces cancer risk. This is especially important fromOctober throughMarch.
  3. Get Some Sun. From April to September, expose your skin to 15 – 20 minutes of sunlight every day but avoid excessive exposure and sunburns.
  4. Relax and Laugh. Reduce stress by laughing often and do yoga or meditate to ease your mind.
  5. Get Screened. Talk to your doctor about appropriate screening and tests.
  6. Exercise Regularly. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity three times per week or more.
  7. Don’t Smoke. And avoid second-hand smoke. Smoking increases the risk of cancer.
  8. Avoid Toxins. Common substances like household cleaning products and pesticides may contain harmful chemicals.
  9. Share Your Love. The more love you give the more love you receive.
  10. Be Body Aware. Listen and trust what your body is telling you. If you have a concern, visit your doctor.

This more proactive approach to treating individuals living with a diagnosis of cancer is quickly becoming recognized as the way of the future and is being led by InspireHealth, a non-profit integrated cancer care centre based in Vancouver. InspireHealth’s integrated model teaches prevention and supports a treatment approach that focuses on each of us taking increased personal responsibility for our own health through lifestyle choices. Not surprisingly, a byproduct of this model for the patient is personal empowerment. It is also proving to be a cost-effective approach, so much so that InspireHealth is attracting interest from corporate and government officials and leaders such as His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

For more information, please visit www.inspirehealth.ca or call (604) 734-7125.