CANCER! Preventing The Tears

Ask me about a disease that has been plaguing the world, stealing the lives of so many and sucking the joy from numerous families and I'll show you cancer.  Now I'm not talking about  epidemics and pandemics like Ebola and Covid-19 that come to cause a ruckus and then go, I'm talking about a disease that has made its home ‘here’. According to WHO, cancer is amongst the top ten deadliest diseases which takes millions of lives yearly, with breast cancer taking the lead.

Cancer has similar characteristics as hepatitis in that there are different types like; lung, breast, leukemia, skin, prostate, bladder, kidney(renal).

Fortunately, this deadly disease can be cured but the cure will however depend on the type and stage. Cancers which are completely curable especially at an early stage  include; prostate, thyroid, testicular, melanoma, lymphoma and breast cancers. The chances of curing the others however are slim,  but i’m not here to discourage you. Being diagnosed with cancer alone can kill you, trust me I know, the thought alone is enough to increase your blood pressure. I’m no expert on cancers so I can’t tell you how to treat it but you know what they say ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Cancer preventives range from what to eat,  what to do and what to avoid. What you put in your body plays a key role in your health. What you want to get into your system are antioxidants, garlic, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, carrot, spinach. Food that contains protein like beans, fish and nuts are equally good. Processed and red meat are two things you want to avoid because meat processing such as curing and smoking can lead to the formation of potentially cancer-causing chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and N-nitroso compounds.

Cancer like every other disease has its Dos and Don’ts, which are simple things to either do or avoid in order to keep yourself cancer free;

• Do not smoke tobacco
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
• Protect yourself from the sun
• Get regular medical check ups

Doing these will help reduce your chances of getting cancer. If you are a person living with grade one cancer you can manage the situation before it turns sour. Go for regular check-ups at the doctors and make it a habit to be consistent with treatment. Keep in mind that the number one killer is not the cancerous cell but your mind. It is important to get therapy for mental balance to avoid breakdowns and keep yourself healthy at all times.