The best ways to prevent cancer are similar to those to prevent obesity and heart disease.A third of cancers are caused by smoking, a third by poor food and a lack of exercise and the other third by a mixture of other causes including genetic predisposition.

A six year research analysing cancer risks show how to reduce this risk (excluding smoking). Some are unsurprising, including physical activity, limiting intake of red meat and limiting alcoholic drinks. More surprisingly, it also highlighted that being a little overweight is also a risk. One of best things people can do to avoid cancer is to maintain a body mass index (BMI) of 21 to 23. Previous BMI guidelines have advised healthy levels to be between 18.5 and 24.9. Therefore to reduce cancer risk you must avoid getting fat at all.

It seems it is agreed that for cancer prevention is better than cure. Dealing with cancer in America costs $100 billion per year, therefore there is a big emphasis on prevention and early detection. Two large insurance companies offering corporate health insurance, income and disability insurance to their employees are reducing their premiums for those members who agree to answering a detailed questionnaire about their way of life and undergo a series of tests. Its conclusions can detect a person who is at risk to a type of cancer due to biochemistry and/or lifestyle and suggest advice or tests for prevention or early detection.

The aim to extend the scheme to lower income groups in America who do not have private medical insurance.

Source: The Economist
To avoid the Big C, stay small