A very small percentage of cancer cases are hereditary. This means that prevention of certain cancers is a real possibility and should be taken as seriously as cancer treatment.
This segment discusses recognized ways of maintaining good health, which along with regular screenings (as indicated) can help save your life by preventing cancer and/or by detecting the presence of many forms of cancer when they are most easily treatable and curable.
Screenings & Tests
We are fortunate to live in a time when so many advanced cancer screenings are available. The Marin Cancer Institute offers a variety of screenings and tests.
Your primary care physician can let you know what types of tests you may need and when you should be screened. Here are some guidelines:- Breast. Beginning at age 40, women should receive a clinical breast examination and mammogram every year, and should conduct a breast self-exam once a month.
The Breast Diagnostic Center of Marin offers a wide range of testing including the latest in digital mammography and other specialized tests such as ultrasound and MRI are also available if further testing is required.
- Prostate. Since the advent of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening, prostate cancer death rates have declined significantly. Standard recommendations for prostate cancer screening include a digital rectal exam and serum PSA test yearly beginning at age 50. More recently, many practitioners have started screening for prostate cancer earlier, beginning at age 40 to 45, especially for men with a high risk of developing prostate cancer, including African American men and those with a family history of cancer. Should your screening determine that further testing is necessary, your physician may recommend a biopsy to determine what treatment if any may be necessary.
Learn more about Prostate Cancer.
- Cervical Screening. A pap (Papanicolaou) test and a pelvic examination are recommended at least every three years in women between 20 and 65. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented, because pre-cancerous cells can be detected and treated before they become invasive.
- Colorectal. Beginning at age 50, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years. However, a colonoscopy should be considered at an earlier age and done more frequently if a sibling or parent has or had colon cancer.
Learn more about Colorectal Cancer.
- Skin Screening. A regular full body exam by a dermatologist can reveal the presence of pre-cancerous lesions on the skin, as well as cancerous growths that can be removed before they spread.
Learn more about Skin Cancer.
Understand the statistics, risk factors, symptoms and more about cancer.
Everyday Health Benefits (Tips to Preventing Cancer)
The Marin Cancer Institute dedicates as much effort to the prevention and education of cancer as it does treating it. Below are some basic guidelines everyone can follow to enjoy better health.
To research more about cancer prevention and other cancer-related topics, visit our Cancer Resource & Recovery Center.
Diet- Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources.
- Eat between five and nine servings of these plant-based foods daily.
- Limit intake of high-fat foods, especially foods high in fats from animal sources.
- Favor natural foods over processed ones.
- Avoid sugar.
Read more about MCI's Nutritional Services.
Stress reduction- Practice stress-busting techniques such as rhythmic breathing or a movement practice such as t’ai chi or yoga.
- Employ imagery or visualization – for instance, imagine a glowing ball of healing energy, then think of it taking away your stress, pain and discomfort.
Exercise- Engage in at least moderate activity for 30 minutes or more on five or more days of the week.
- Taking a brisk walk.
Avoid exposure to cancer-causing substances and circumstances- Stop smoking. This is the single most important step you can take to avoid cancer.
- Overconsumption of alcohol is a risk factor for certain cancer.
- Avoid exposure to the sun by covering up while outdoors and using sunscreen.
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