Cancer Prevention in Seniors from a Senior Care Agency

North Vancouver Senior Health  |  June 14, 2023

What Every Senior in North Vancouver and West Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention in Seniors | The most significant risk factor for the development of cancer is aging; however, the risk of many types of cancer can be drastically reduced by focusing on prevention steps. Several factors play a role in cancer development, such as heredity, but many can be voluntarily avoided.

Fast Facts

Cancer prevention in seniors: did you know that about half of all cancers can be prevented? It’s My Life! is an interactive, evidence-based tool on the Canadian Cancer website that teaches you how 10 lifestyle factors can affect your risk of getting cancer and what you can do to prevent it: http://itsmylife.cancer.ca/

9 Steps that Can Help with Cancer Prevention:

#1 – Don’t smoke and avoid exposure to smoke:

Smoking is the most significant cancer risk factor. It is to blame for lung and many other types of cancer. The best way to help prevent cancer is to quit smoking or never start. As soon as you quit, the body positively responds ─ so it’s never too late.

#DYK – Avoiding secondhand smoke also helps to prevent cancer, because this smoke contains more than 60 known carcinogens. These carcinogens interrupt normal cell development, a catalyst for cancer development.

#2 – Stay safe in the sun and watch for skin changes:

Each year, over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. It is the most common cancer and accounts for about half of all cancer diagnoses, yet it’s one of the most preventable types of cancer. Reduce UV ray exposure by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and avoiding the mid-day sun and tanning beds.

#3 – Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables:

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables greatly reduces the risk of developing cancer and many other conditions. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help repair damaged cells. Green, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables are your best bet to help prevent cancer. Studies also show that dark fruits, like blueberries and grapes, may also have anti-cancer properties. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are particularly helpful, according to numerous studies.

#4 – Limit red meat and animal fat:

A diet high in animal fat increases the risk for several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Red meat contains much more fat than poultry and fish, so reducing the amount of red meat in your diet may help to prevent cancer. A diet high in fat also is a major cause of obesity, which is another risk factor for many types of cancer.

#5 – Limit alcohol intake:

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol regularly increases the risk of many kinds of cancer. Studies suggest that men who consume two alcoholic drinks per day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day can significantly increase their risk factors for certain types of cancer.

#6 – Exercise:

When you exercise, you are reducing your risk for many types of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 30 or more minutes, at least 5 days a week for cancer prevention. Always check with your physician before embarking on any exercise program.

#7 – Know your environment:

Exposure to chemicals may increase the risk of developing many types of cancer, including kidney cancer and bladder cancer. If you are exposed to fumes, dust, chemicals, and the like, you may want to look into ways to reduce or eliminate your exposure. Gasoline, diesel exhaust, arsenic, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers are all dangerous carcinogens.

#8 – Be familiar with your personal and family medical history:

Cancers such as breast, colon, ovarian, and other types can be hereditary. If certain cancers run in your family, tell your doctor so that he or she can recommend the right screenings and assess your true risk. Genetic testing and counseling may be encouraged based on a family’s medical history.

#9 – Get regular cancer screens:

Cancer screening tests can be useful in detecting cancer ─ and preventing it. The colonoscopy and Pap smear can detect abnormal cellular changes before they turn cancerous. The key to their effectiveness is that they are done regularly. Other tests may be useful for early detection, but not necessarily cancer prevention. It is common to have prostate cancer screening through digital rectal exams, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests can help detect prostate cancer early. Mammograms and other imaging tools are also recommended to detect breast cancer, and the survival rate continues to grow.

Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver Can Help with In-Home Elderly Care Services!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care. Our senior care agency offers dementia care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® is a Senior Care Agency That Can Make a Difference with Interactive Caregiving™

Our expert in-home caregivers will strive to ensure your senior loved one has the best quality of life possible, bringing joy and good health to their home environment. Our Interactive Caregiving™ program ensures all needs in terms of safety, nutrition, mental well-being, and everyday activities of home care services are met.

Quality and Accredited Elderly Care In-Home: Happier, Healthier, and at Home with 24/7 Care Opportunities!

Have you been thinking about Nursing Homes as a solution? Do you need a Home Care solution for you or a loved one? Comfort Keepers® supports seniors in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the surrounding areas, enabling them to maintain happy, healthy lives in the comfort of their own homes.

We achieve this by delivering top-quality, compassionate care and safety technology solutions, fostering independence, and enhancing overall well-being.

Moreover, our seasoned in-home caregivers are carefully chosen based on their empathetic qualities. Our care centers around companionship for seniors. Empathetic care originates from the soul and allows us to meet our client’s requirements. 

Senior Homecare Near Me

Contact the Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver office to learn more about our unique service offering.

Comfort Keepers is an Accredited Senior Care Agency in North and West Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers®, the premium home care service for Seniors on the North Shore, was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. Achieving the highest available certification in Canada for Accredited Home care services demonstrates Comfort Keepers®’s commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

References:

National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Preventive Cancer Care for the Elderly”. Web. 2015.
LifestyleOptions.com. “Cancer Care in the Elderly”. Web. 2015.
American Cancer Society. “Prevention Studies for a Cancer-Free Tomorrow”. Web 2015.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States”. Web. 2014.

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