Cancer has many possible causes and even more suspected and rumored causes. Some risk factors are avoidable and others are not, which may make it unclear how we can reduce our cancer risk.
Dr. Demet Gokalp Yasar, a Marshfield Clinic oncologist/hematologist, explained what you must avoid to reduce your cancer risk, what’s probably risky and what doesn’t pose a threat.
Avoid these known cancer-causers
Drinking too much alcohol.
The more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time, the greater his or her risk of developing mouth and esophageal cancers. Risk increases when people drink 3.5 drinks per day, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“If you have underlying liver cirrhosis, drinking too much also increases your risk for liver cancer,” Gokalp Yasar said.
Reduce your chances of getting alcohol-associated cancer by limiting your intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks for men.
Read more about absorbing the effects of alcohol.
Exposure to cancer-causing agents at work.
Asbestos is one of the most well-known lung cancer causing substances workers face in the shipbuilding, manufacturing, power and construction industries.
Workers in the textile, cement, printing, rubber and leather industries also are exposed to chemicals that increase their risk for several cancers.
Talk to your employer about safety equipment if you’re exposed to cancer-causing agents at work.
Radon in your home.
Smoking cigarettes isn’t the only cause of lung cancer. A colorless odorless gas called radon can seep into your home and increase your lung cancer risk. The problem affects homes in every state, including Wisconsin.
“Even if your neighbor doesn’t have elevated radon levels, you should still check your home,” Gokalp Yasar said. “The reading may surprise you.”
Professionals can test for radon or you can do it yourself with a kit from the hardware store. Talk to a radon mitigation contractor about the best way to reduce elevated radon levels in your home.
Proceed with caution
Exposure to these agents can slightly increase your cancer risk, so experts recommend using them sparingly or with caution:
- Processed meats. The World Health Organization added processed meats like bacon, cold cuts and hot dogs to its list of carcinogens last fall. Eating processed meats regularly slightly increases your colon cancer risk, so you should limit your intake to once or twice a month.
- Meats cooked at high temperatures. Chemicals known to cause DNA damage and increase cancer risk form on meat cooked at high temperatures through methods like grilling. Limit your exposure to these carcinogens by reducing your intake of meat cooked at high temperatures, turning meat continuously and removing charred portions.
- UV nail lamps. Exposure to UV light is a risk factor for skin cancer, but the amount given off by the lamps used to set gel manicures is much lower than what’s given off by tanning beds. Cancer risk from nail lamp exposure is thought to be low. You can reduce your risk by applying sunscreen around your nails or choosing an air-drying manicure.
Still a safe bet
Research has shown these rumored cancer-causing agents are actually safe:
- Artificial sweeteners. Studies from the 1970s showed a link between saccharin, known by the brand name Sweet’N Low, and cancer in laboratory animals. Since then, saccharin hasn’t been shown to cause cancer in humans. It is approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration, along with many other artificial sweeteners.
- Cellphones. Cellphones don’t give off enough energy to produce cancer-causing DNA damage.
- X-rays. Imaging tests that use X-rays expose patients to a very small amount of radiation. “They’re very safe, even multiple times a year,” Gokalp Yasar said.
My stepmother ate alot of fruit and vegatables and still got cancer I think the pesticides are just as bad or even worse for cancer than the other foods you mention its very expensive to eat organic and organic food is not 100 percent pesticide free either
1 Are you keeping up to date on research linking the human microbiome and cancer ? NCBI is an excellent site.
2 For a long time I've suspected that chronic inflammation in the gut (or leaky gut) is a factor in the longer opening periods of the gateways in the epilithium, thus letting bad actors (the wrong bacteria) into the blood stream, and a possible link with cancer development. Since the emulsifiers in processed foods have been linked with chronic inflammation of the gut, and hence the microbiome, are you recommending that all cancer patients avoid processed foods, in order to prevent this chronic inflammation and/or further problems ?
3 Are you educating your cancer patients about the important role the human microbiome plays in our health, and the best foods to nurture this ecosystem of largely commensal bacteria ?
Hi, Joe. I apologize for the delay in responding; I wanted to discuss all your questions with Dr. Demet Gokalp Yasar first.
She said,
1. Yes; our oncology and research teams strive to stay up-to-date on the latest research and findings.
2-3. There are considerable gaps in our knowledge about the role of microbiota in cancer development and not enough data to recommend avoiding processed foods entirely. We instead recommend a healthful balanced diet with limited amounts of processed food. Our patients who are diagnosed with cancer see our dietitian team.
Thank you for reading Shine365. -Kirstie
Where is the warning about sugar? Cancer feeds on sugar.
Yes; this is addressed in another Shine365 story: https://shine365.marshfieldclinic.org/cancer-care/reduce-cancer-risk-with-diet-changes/ It says:
The American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) offers these easy-to-digest cancer prevention lifestyle recommendations:
– Be as lean as possible without being underweight.
– Be physically active at least 30 minutes a day.
– Avoid sugary drinks and limit foods high in fat and sugar.
– Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.
– Limit red meats, processed meats and salt.
Thanks for reading, Pat! -Kirstie
How about the casein found in cheese & dairy products? According to the book
"China Study" it feeds cancer cells.
Larry – In consulting with our nutritionists, they want to stress this is just one study, done in rats directly fed casein. Of more importance from studies and books like The China Study are the recommendations for a plant based diet; the more plant based whole foods and the less processed foods we eat, the less risk of cancer. This is the key takeaway from their expert perspectives. Thank you for reading. -Kirstie
If I remember as it was some time ago when I read the China Study…..they conducted a lot with Petri dishes and varied the casein percentages….. Thanks for replying. I do not think
that the Marshfield Clinic or Mayo stress the plant based diet enough. Also the plant based
diet is MUCH better for our environment. I would love to eat all plant based but my wife
is a Norwegian…..bless her soul.
Good tips, thanks for sharing.