Fighting Cancer

     Enyart Chiropractic joined the fight against cancer with the great folks at the American Cancer Society and participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Belleville West High School on July 10, 2009.  Enyart Chiropractic raised over $2,000 to help fund the American Cancer Society!  Thank you to all who donated!  Dr. Enyart has lost several family members to cancer. He is honored to know several cancer survivors, and these survivors give him added motivation and energy to fight back against this dreaded disease.  The best way to fight cancer is by preventing it in the first place.  On this page you will find several tips on how to prevent cancer.

     The 2010 Belleville Relay for Life is currently in its planning stages. Dr. Enyart has joined the Planning Committee for this great event.  The Belleville Relay can always use more committee members, teams, team members and volunteers.  Please contact Dr. Enyart for more information at (618) 397-4700 or email at drenyart@mybellevillechiropractor.com

Cancer Prevention Tips

Small changes in your everyday life might help reduce your risk of cancer.

You've probably heard conflicting reports in the news about what can or can't help you in terms of cancer prevention. The issue of cancer prevention gets confusing — sometimes what's recommended in one report is advised against in another. What you can be sure of when it comes to cancer prevention is that making small changes to your everyday life might help reduce your chances of getting cancer. Try these seven cancer prevention steps.

Cancer prevention step 1: Don't use tobacco

All types of tobacco put you on a collision course with cancer. Rejecting tobacco, or deciding to stop using it, is one of the most important health decisions you can make. It's also an important part of cancer prevention.

Smoking has been linked to several types of cancer, including:

• Bladder
• Cervix
• Esophagus
• Kidney
• Lip
• Lung
• Mouth
• Pancreas
• Throat
• Voice box (larynx)

Chewing tobacco has been linked to multiple types of cancer, including:

• Esophagus
• Mouth
• Pancreas
• Throat

Inhaled chewing tobacco (snuff) may increase the risk of cancers, including:

• Esophagus
• Mouth

Even if you don't smoke, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Being around others who are smoking may increase your risk of lung cancer.

Cancer prevention step 2: Eat a variety of healthy foods

Though making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee you won't get cancer, it may help reduce your risk.

The American Cancer Society recommends that you:

Eat an abundance of foods from plant-based sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In addition, eat other foods from plant sources, such as whole grains and beans, several times a day. Replacing high-calorie foods in your diet with fruits and vegetables may help you lose weight or maintain your weight. A diet high in fruits and vegetables has been linked to a reduced risk of cancers of the colon, esophagus, lung and stomach.

Many people know it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet, but are unsure why these foods may help to prevent cancer.  Carotenoids are molecules that may help block or repair damaged cells that might otherwise become cancerous.  They also may also slow the growth of cancer cells and stop the self-destruction of healthy cells.  Carotenoids are present in plant foods like fruits and veggies, which is why it may be beneficial to eat them to prevent cancer.

Carotenoids are mostly found in orange, yellow, dark red and green fruits and vegetables.  But instead of just focusing on these colors, try to eat an overall variety of fruits and vegetables, since others also may also be cancer protective.  For instance, some studies show that purple, green and white fruits and veggies also may offset development of cancer, due to their cancer-fighting phytochemicals.

One study of 183,518 men and women suggests that a diet high in flavonol-rich apples, berries, kale, and broccoli may help cut the risk of pancreatic cancer, especially in smokers.

Another study of about 500,000 people aged 50 and older shows eating an additional two servings a day of fruit and vegetables -- no matter how many servings you now eat -- can reduce the risk of developing head and neck cancers.

The third study suggests that chemicals in cruciferous vegetables and soy reduce production of two proteins necessary for the spread of breast and ovarian cancers.

Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly those from animal sources. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and may increase the risk of overweight or obesity, which can, in turn, increase cancer risk.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Your risk of cancers, including mouth, throat, esophagus, kidney, liver and breast cancers, increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly. Even a moderate amount of drinking — two drinks a day if you're a man or one drink a day if you're a woman, and one drink a day regardless of your sex if you're over 65 — may increase your risk.

Cancer prevention step 3: Stay active and maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly also may play a role in cancer prevention. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, stomach and uterus.  Physical activity can help you avoid obesity by controlling your weight. Physical activity on its own may also lower your risk of cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and uterus.

Try to be physically active for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week. Once you achieve that goal, adding more exercise to your day may reduce your risk of certain cancers further.

Your exercise sessions can include such low-key activities as brisk walking, raking the yard or even ballroom dancing. Safe exercise programs are available for just about everyone. Your doctor or physical therapist can help design one for you.

Cancer prevention step 4: Protect yourself from the sun

Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Although repeated exposure to X-rays or contact with certain chemicals can play a role, sun exposure is by far the most common cause of skin cancer.

Most skin cancer occurs on exposed parts of your body, including your face, hands, forearms and ears. Nearly all skin cancer is treatable if you detect it early, but it's better to prevent it in the first place. Try these tips:

Avoid peak radiation hours. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Minimize or avoid being outside during these hours.

Stay in the shade. If you go outside, minimize your sun exposure by staying in the shade.

Cover exposed areas. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing that protects you from the sun's rays. Use tightly woven fabrics that cover your arms and legs, and wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers your head and ears.

Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
Don't use indoor tanning beds or sunlamps. These also can damage your skin. There's no such thing as a healthy tan.

References:    
Mayoclinic.com
Foodconsumer.org
Webmd.com
Superfoodsrx.com