Over 16,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and many of these are due to risky behaviour and habits. Unfortunately, while many cancers are inevitable, a recent study has suggested that 40 per cent of cancer deaths were preventable.
So what are Australians doing that is leading to premature death from cancer? The eight modifiable risk factors are:
- Tobacco smoking, including passive smoking
- Low intake of fruit and vegetables and high intake of red and processed meat
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Being overweight
- Being physically inactive
- Excessive exposure to UV light
- Infections such as hepatitis C and Human papillomavirus
- Use of some menopausal hormonal therapy
For fun details, check out the article on http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/cancer-study-finds-40pc-deaths-preventable-with-lifestyle-change/9247876?pfmredir=sm&sf176062315=1 and in the meantime, it might be time for all of us to rethink how we are living, and how that might contribute to when we will be dying.