Cancer Prevention Action Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of cancer and cancer prevention, and encourage you to take action.

The World Cancer Research Fund, founded in 1982 tell us:

“Around 1100 people get diagnosed with cancer every day, but experts now believe that up to 40% of cancer cases are preventable. If people didn’t smoke, avoided the sun, avoided alcohol, ate a healthy diet, maintained a healthy body weight and stayed physically active, 1 in 4 cancers might simply never develop.

We want that to happen. We want to live in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer.

One of the problems with cancer is that people often don’t think about it until, sadly, they hear the words “you’ve got cancer”. While it’s true that cancer is much more common in older people – because our cells deteriorate as we age – prevention can start young.”

What can increase your chances of getting cancer? And how can you prevent it?

• Obesity and weight
  Keep your weight within the healthy range (BMI 18.5-24.9 in adults)

• Being inactive
  Be physically active as part of everyday life - walk more and sit less

• Poor diet
  Eat a wide range of wholegrains, fruits , vegetables and pulses such as beans, limit consumption of fast foods and processed foods full of fat and sugar (you can still eat your favourite foods - but make sure to do this in moderation!)

• Red and processed meat
  Try not to eat more than 3 portions of red meat a week and little to no processed meat (such as chicken nuggets, hot dogs and hamburgers), try to have at least 1 meat free day per week.

• Sugary drinks
  Try to avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and stick to water, tea or coffee without any sugar or fruit juice in small portions. Fizzy drinks are one of the highest contributing factors to obesity.

• Alcohol
  Don’t drink alcohol - but if you do, follow national guidelines (in the UK it is advised to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread over at least 3 days)

• Smoking
  This is the biggest cause of cancer around the world. Not smoking or giving up smoking is the best way to reduce your own cancer risk and the risk of those around you.

• Sun & UV rays
  Don’t stay out in the sun too long, apply high-factor sunscreen frequently and avoid using sunbeds or tanning booths.

This year, the World Cancer Research Fund is focusing on how people can cut back on processed meat, which is linked to bowel cancer. Visit their website to quiz yourself on how much you know about processed meat: Quiz: How much do you know about processed meat? - World Cancer Research Fund (wcrf-uk.org)