Friday 4th February marks World Cancer Day 2022. According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. While there is no way to completely prevent yourself from getting cancer, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk.
If you smoke, the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer is to stop smoking. Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer both in the UK and worldwide. It is associated with 15 types of cancer, including mouth, pharynx (upper throat), nose, larynx, oesophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, ovary, bladder, cervix, and some types of leukaemia. The main type of cancer associated with smoking is lung cancer, which smoking is the leading cause of.
The best way to improve your health as someone who smokes is to stop smoking completely. This can be very challenging, but there are a range of helpful tools and services which can aid you in your journey to stop smoking. Getting in touch with local free stop smoking services is a great place to start. You may benefit from using different medicines and treatments, such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), vapes / e-cigarettes, or prescription medication.
If you are someone who drinks alcohol, another great way to lower your risk of cancer is to reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol can cause 7 different types of cancer, including breast, mouth, and bowel cancer. The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. You should also try to spread this over 3 or more days, rather than consuming it all at once. It is also recommended that you have several drink-free days each week.
If you are worried that you may be drinking too much and find it difficult to cut down, you can speak about it with your GP who will guide you on what to do next. Alternatively, you can contact one of the many support lines, such as Drinkline for free on 0300 123 1110 for help and advice. It may also be a good idea to keep track of your drinking using the NHS Drink Free Days App.
As a charity, the White Ribbon Association are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles. Alcohol and smoking are a big focus of ours, and on our website, you will find a wide range of resources providing information on these topics.
For further help and advice related to smoking and alcohol…
Smoking Helplines:
England: 0300 123 1044
Wales: 0800 085 2219
Scotland: 0800 84 84 84
Alcohol Support Services:
Alcoholics Anonymous – A free self-help group.
Al-Anon Family Groups – offers support to families and friends of problem drinkers.
We Are With You – Helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.
Adfam – A national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol.
Cancer Support Services: