No one likes to think about cancer. But being proactive about cancer prevention and early detection could be lifesaving.
“There’s a lot people can do to lower their risk of developing cancer, as well as their risk of having more advanced stages of cancer when it’s diagnosed,” says Lise Alschuler, ND, associate director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona.
Alschuler helps break down potential symptoms of cancer and proactive efforts to take at different stages of life. Just remember, many cancer symptoms overlap those of other conditions. (So, don’t play doctor.)

Youth

You know your child best, so you may be the first to notice something unusual that might point to cancer.

Common cancers in kids

Most childhood cancers aren’t due to lifestyle. But the habits you instill in kids may help prevent cancer when they’re adults.

Proactive actions

Keep regular checkups
Routine blood tests can show potential signs of some cancers, including leukemia.

Encourage physical activity
Exercise lowers cancer risk.

Teach sun safety
Visit ewg.org/sunscreen for a list of safe, effective sunscreens. Discourage indoor tanning.

Unhealthy glow

Just one indoor tanning session increases the chance of melanoma skin cancer by 20 percent. Melanoma risk doubles when indoor tanning use starts before the age of 35.

Adulthood

Some cancer symptoms are vague. “Unexplained fatigue is commonly a cancer symptom in adults,” says Alschuler. “But you need to rule out other factors, like anemia and depression.”

Common cancers in adults

Alschuler says nonsmokers and women (even if they don’t smoke) are the groups experiencing the fastest rise in lung cancer cases. Several factors could be to blame, such as radon in homes, second-hand smoke, and air pollution.

Proactive actions

Get checkups
Several screenings—including mammograms, prostate tests, and colonoscopies—are generally started between ages 40 and 50, depending on personal risk.

Maintain a healthy weight
Excess body fat increases risk of many cancers.

Limit alcohol and avoid smoking
Both are known causes of cancer.

Be a teetotaler

The less alcohol you drink (of any kind), the lower your risk for cancer.

Seniors

“As people age, their body doesn’t work quite as well as it used to, and they may have more aches and pains,” says Alschuler. “So, it can be harder to understand what might be cancer.”

Many cancers common in middle-aged adults (see previous section) are even more common in older adults.

Other common cancers in older adults

Unexplained weight loss can also signal cancer, but that can also be due to many other factors in older adults, says Alschuler. So, consult a health care practitioner.

Proactive actions

Continue checkups
Decide with your doctor which cancer screenings are still right for you.

Check your skin regularly
A dermatologist can evaluate any concerns.

Monitor your weight
Weigh yourself at least every month.

Anticancer eating

“Many different dietary patterns are associated with a reduced risk of cancer,” says Ellen Conte, ND, a clinician scientist at Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre in Ontario. “So, you can adapt dietary recommendations to your eating style.”

Foods to include

Foods to limit

Items to limit or avoid are red meat (especially processed red meat and charred meat), added sugars, highly processed foods, fast foods, and alcohol, says Conte. All are linked with an increased risk of cancer.

Supplemental support

If you were to take only one supplement to aid your cancer prevention efforts, both Conte and Alschuler say vitamin D has the strongest evidence of a benefit. That said, ask your health care practitioner to test your vitamin D level. “Some people may need more vitamin D than others to have sufficient levels in their body,” says Conte.

Many other supplements might help with cancer prevention (see sidebar, “Supplement your anticancer lifestyle”). But use them to complement a healthy lifestyle, not as a band-aid for unhealthy habits.

“More important than any supplement you could take, the biggest impact on cancer prevention comes from maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, following a healthy dietary pattern, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and practising sun safety,” concludes Conte.

How to: Breast self-exam

Opinions on the value of monthly breast self-exams vary. But it’s helpful to know what “normal” feels like for you. That comes from checking your breasts regularly, both visually and by touch.

By sight

Looking in a mirror with hands at your sides, check for changes in appearance such as dimpling or discoloration. Repeat the inspection with your hands firmly on your hips, and then again with your arms raised over your head and the palms of your hands together.

By touch

Either lying on your back or while showering, imagine a sliced pie over your breast and use the pads of your three middle fingers to methodically palpate the breast in “slices.” Use light, medium, and then firm pressure to feel each section for anything unusual. Repeat with the other breast.

Follow up with your doctor if anything seems abnormal for you.

Supplement your anticancer lifestyle

Preliminary studies suggest several supplements may aid cancer prevention. Many of them may address immune system dysfunction and heightened inflammation, which are significant factors in cancer risk.

Based on your individual concerns, consider these supplements.