February 4^th is World Cancer Day. Cancer affects both men and women of all ages with over 155,000 cases per year in the UK. Whilst not all cancers are preventable and 5-10% of cancers are genetic, there are some measures we can take to reduce our risks of developing certain types of cancer.

If you are concerned about any symptoms you may have, it is best to speak to a health professional such as your GP or Pharmacist.

Below are some tips on lifestyle changes we can all make to help improve our overall health and reduce our risk of Cancer.

 

Increase Exercise and a Healthy Diet.

Maintaining a healthy body weight can improve overall health and reduce your risk of  cancers and other conditions such a Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and can improve quality of sleep. Eating a healthy balanced diet can help to reduce your risk of cancer as it helps us to maintain a healthy body weight.

Healthy Diet

• Increase fruit & vegetable intake
• Increase fibre in your diet (wholegrain foods)
• Include healthy proteins; chicken, fish, beans
• Reduce processed foods & red meats
• Reduce consumption of alcohol
• Reduce foods high in saturated fats.

Tips to increase daily movement:

• Take the stairs and not the lift
• Park a little further from the office
• Take a walk on your lunch break
• Include 10 minutes of exercise in the morning and evening
• Stand up more throughout the day

If you are struggling with losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, McKeevers Chemists can offer advice tailored to suit your routine and lifestyle in our Medicated Weight Management service. A consultation with our expert Pharmacy Services Manager can be booked here.

Quit Smoking

Cigarettes contain over 700 chemicals many of which are harmful. Smoking has been linked to numerous types of cancer including lungs, mouth, throat but has been linked to other cancers throughout the body.

Quitting smoking not only reduces your risk of cancer, but it also reduces your risk of developing other heart and lung conditions such as COPD, heart attacks and stroke.

Quitting smoking can be a difficult, McKeevers Chemist have trained pharmacists who can help support you to quit smoking through our 12 week Smoking Cessation service. Read more about our Smoking Cessation Service.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Cutting back on alcohol can reduce your risk of several cancers including liver, breast and larynx.

The recommended alcohol units is no more than 14 units per week. Reducing alcohol consumption can improve you overall health, help you lose weight and can increase your energy.

You can use this simple tool from Drink Aware to calculate how many units & calories are in the drinks you consume.

Be Sun Safe and Avoid Sunbeds

Sunlight is important for our health as it is a natural source of vitamin D, however its important know to the dangers of spending too much time in the sun. Sun burn and UV exposure is the leading cause of preventable skin cancer in the UK.

If you’re enjoying an exotic holiday or the sun during the summer months remember to be sun smart as it can reduce the risks of developing skin cancer.

• Wear Sunscreen with appropriate SPF
• Wear a hat and sunglasses
• Covering up with clothes - e.g. long sleeves
• Stay in the shade when UV rays are strongest (11am – 3pm during summer)

The British Association of Dermatologists advises people to not use sunbeds as their UV rays are more concentrated than natural sunlight. There have been health risks associated with sunbed use including skin cancer, sun burn, and premature skin aging.

Get Vaccinated against HPV

The HPV Vaccine helps prevent against cancer including Cervical Cancer and head and neck cancers.

The HPV Vaccine is routinely offered though schools or the NHS when children are ages 12 &13 years. If you are unable to obtain the vaccine thought the NHS McKeevers Chemist offer a private HPV Vaccine Service.

 

Whilst it is important to take measures to reduce our risks of developing cancer, it is also important to know the signs and symptoms of cancer.  Below are the some of the signs and symptoms of common cancers:

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer amongst women in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Breast Programme screens Woman aged 50 to 70 for Breast cancer every 3 years. It is important to recognise changes in your body and checking your breasts for any unusual changes can help detect breast cancer early. For a guide on how to check yourself and further information on breast cancer see here. Not all breast lumps are cancerous, but its always good to get any changes checked out.

Symptoms

• A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
• A discharge/fluid from either nipple
• A new lump, swelling, thickening or bumpy area in one breast or armpit that was not there before
• Dimpling or a change of look/feel to the skin on your breasts
• A change in the position or appearance of your nipple
• A rash on or around your nipple
• Any discomfort or pain in your breast (although this is only a symptom of breast cancer in a rare case)

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Northern Ireland. Prostate cancer does not normally cause symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra. This normally results in problems linked to urination (peeing); which can include:

• needing to urinate more often, especially during the night
• needing to rush to the toilet
• difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
• straining or taking a long time while urinating
• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully

More information on Prostate Cancer

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Symptoms may not develop until the condition has progressed.

Symptoms

• A persistent cough (doesn’t go away after 3 weeks)
• A long-standing cough that gets worse
• Recurrent chest infections
• Coughing up blood
• Ache or pain when breathing or coughing
• Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
• Persistent tiredness or lack of energy

Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, it is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the UK.

Symptoms

• A persistent change in bowel habits; going more often, looser stools
• Blood in stools
• Abdominal pain – discomfort or bloating always brough on by eating or causing a loss of appetite

 

For more information and support if you or a family member are living with Cancer, resources are available through the following organisations:

Macmillan Cancer Support | The UK's leading cancer care charity

Cancer Research UK

Cancer - NHS (www.nhs.uk)