The longer you live, the more genetic damage accumulates in your body, increasing the risk for cancer. Cancer risk begins to climb rapidly at the age of 50 and older. Nearly 4 of every 5 cancers (77%) are diagnosed in individuals over the age of 55.
You can’t do much about aging, but you can significantly reduce your risk of cancer by taking these precautions:
- Eliminate all other known cancer risks
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle known to protect against cancer
- And get regular cancer checks as recommended by your doctor for your age and gender
Here’s an example: it is estimated that if everyone over age 50 got a colonoscopy exam every 10 years or as recommended by their doctor, precancerous polyps could be removed, preventing up to 90% of all early deaths from colon cancer. This is very remarkable when you realize that colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer for men and women.
You can also significantly reduce your risk of colon cancer by eating more healthfully. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, choose whole grain cereals, limit processed and red meats, and avoid alcohol.
Like it or not, you will get older. Be sure to take good care of your health and get regular exams. |
