You can take steps to reduce your risk of being diagnosed with many forms of cancer. Living a healthy lifestyle is very important for cancer prevention. Up to two-thirds of all cancers may be preventable by avoiding tobacco and adopting other healthy lifestyle habits. In addition, regular cancer screenings and examinations can help detect certain types of cancer in the earliest stages.

Blumenthal Cancer Center offers many services to help you learn more about cancer prevention and screening. These programs include genetic cancer risk assessment, screening exams based on age and gender, nutritional counseling and tobacco cessation classes. For more information, contact Blumenthal Cancer Center at 704-355-2884 or blumenthalcc@carolinashealthcare.org

Prevention and Educational Information
Explore the links to the left to learn more about the cancer prevention, early cancer detection, and how you can become more involved in the fight against cancer.

Calendar of Events: Find out how you can join Blumenthal Cancer Center's efforts to raise awareness and funds for cancer research throughout the region.

Cancer Screening Guidelines: Recommendations for screening exams to assist with identifying cancers early.

Diet: Eating right, being active, and maintaining a healthy weight are important ways to reduce your risk of cancer-as well as heart disease and diabetes. Learn more about how diet and exercise can lead to a reduced risk of cancer.

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Exercise: It is recommended that you adopt a physically active lifestyle. The American Cancer Society suggests that adults engage in at least moderate activity for 30 minutes or more on at least 5 days of the week. 45 minutes or more of activity on at least 5 days per week may further enhance reductions in the risk of breast and colon cancer. For children and adolescents, it is recommended that they engage in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least 5 days per week.

Being overweight can lead to an increased risk for cancers of the colon, prostate, endometrium, breast, and kidney.

Quitting tobacco use is the best way you can prevent cancer and improve your health. A good way to begin quitting is to write down all of the reasons you have to stop using tobacco. This will motivate you when you get discouraged.

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Smoking: The following are some tips to help you stay a non-smoker while you are trying to kick the habit:

• Spend your free time in public places where smoking isn't allowed: libraries, malls, museums, movie theatres, church, etc.
• Do not eat or drink things that you associate with smoking such as coffee or alcohol. Try drinking water or fruit juices.
• Have something on hand that you can play with: marble, pencil, paper clips, etc.
• Have something on hand that you can put in your mouth: toothpick, cinnamon stick, etc.
• Picture your lungs filling with clean air when you take breaths.
• Brush your teeth.
• Stay in close contact with supportive friends, family members or counselors.
• Eat several small meals a day.
• Reward yourself for your hard work!
• Tell yourself "no" out loud when you get a craving.
• Hold your breath in and light a match. Exhale slowly and blow out the match. Pretend it is a cigarette and put it out in an ashtray.

Smokeless Tobacco: In many ways, quitting smokeless tobacco is a lot like quitting smoking. Most of the things that were listed above can be used to aid you in your fight against smokeless tobacco. There are two elements of quitting, however, that are unique for smokeless tobacco users:

• There is often a stronger need for oral substitutes to take the place of the chew or snuff. Therefore, you may want to have oral substitutes, such as sunflower seeds, sugarless gum, carrot sticks, beef jerky, cinnamon sticks or hard candy on hand.
• The disappearance of mouth sores and gum problems caused by the smokeless tobacco provides a readily visible benefit.

Smoking Cessation classes are offered by Carolinas HealthCare System and available to anyone. Please call 704-355-3258 for more information.

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Alcohol: Alcohol use is known to increase the risk of cancer. If consumed, limit drinks to two a day for men and one a day for women. Using alcohol can raise your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast.

Moderation is the key to reducing your risk. Most of the cancers listed are brought on by heavy consumption of alcohol.

People who drink and use tobacco greatly increase their chances of getting cancer.

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Sun Exposure: There are precautions you can take all year round to protect you and your family.

• Limit your time in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. This is when the sun's rays are the strongest.
• Don't forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you are swimming of sweating.
• Most skin professionals recommend using sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV-protective lenses.
• Take extra precaution with your children's skin. Experts warn that even one severe burn during childhood can increase your risk of skin cancer.
• Some medications can cause you to be more sun-sensitive. Consult your physician or pharmacist if this is true for any of the medications you are taking.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma: The ABCD rule is a helpful way to differentiate a normal mole from something that could be melanoma.

Asymmetry: It may be melanoma if one half of the mole does not match the other half.

Border irregularity: If the edges of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred, or notched, it may be a sign of melanoma.

Color: Another sign is if the color over the mole is not the same. There may be differing shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes patches of red, blue, or white.

Diameter: Lastly, if a mole is larger than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inches or about the size of a pencil eraser) it may be melanoma. In recent years doctors are finding more melanomas between 3 and 6 millimeters.

It is important to watch for growing moles and changes in shape and color. Some melanomas may not fit this ABCD rule. It is very important for you to contact your physician with any concerns or questions.

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Family History: Most cancers are caused by a mix of environmental risk factors and inheritance. For example, women who have a mother, daughter or sister with breast cancer are two to three times more likely to get breast cancer than a woman with no family history. But, someone with a family history of melanoma can avoid sun exposure and take the proper precautions to prevent getting melanoma.

An important step in cancer prevention is knowing your family history. This information can make you aware of what habits you should improve upon and what habits to discontinue.

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