Ways to Reduce the Risk of Cancer

By Jessica Ott | April 23, 2025 | Comments Off on Ways to Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Getting some form of cancer is a fear that many elderly individuals have. Chances are, your elderly loved one knows at least one person who has had cancer. She probably knows quite a few. She might sadly also know of friends or family who have passed away because of their fight with cancer. That knowledge and having a personal connection with someone who has battled cancer can lead your loved one to a place where she wants to take steps to possibly lower her risk of developing cancer of some kind. Hiring senior home care providers can help her with her steps of making these changes to reduce her risk.

Senior Home Care Abbottstown PA - Ways to Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Senior Home Care Abbottstown PA – Ways to Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Which Cancers Are the Most Preventable?

While there is nothing your elderly loved one or anyone else can do to eliminate the risk of cancer, there are some cancers that can have their risk reduced. These types of cancer are more commonly caused by lifestyle choices than things like heredity, sex, or age (although all of those may play a part in combining with lifestyle risks to increase the likelihood of getting that cancer).

These are a few forms of cancer that can have their risk reduced by employing healthy lifestyle choices:

  • Lung cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Breast cancer

Six Lifestyle Choices that Can Reduce the Risk of Some Cancers

  1. Stop using all tobacco products, including vapes, cigarettes, cigars, chew, and pipes.
  2. Don’t drink alcohol in excessive amounts.
  3. Get regular exercise as directed by her doctor.
  4. Eat foods that are not processed, like fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
  5. Maintain regular doctor and dental visits, and follow recommendations for proactive behaviors such as vaccinations and medications.
  6. Use proper protection in the sun.

Remember, anyone can get cancer, even the healthiest person who has no bad habits. With these lifestyle changes, your loved one will not only reduce her risk of developing cancer, but she might also improve her overall health, increasing her risk of beating a cancer diagnosis should one occur.

Getting Support Can Help Your Loved One Make Healthier Choices

If your loved one looks at that list and it looks impossible, she might decide she doesn’t have the desire or the ability to make the changes she needs. It can be frustrating to see your loved one continue with bad habits when you know the dangers they pose. For that reason, finding the support she needs can be a tangible way for you to help your loved one succeed.

When it comes to addictions such as alcohol or tobacco, a professional support group is usually the best resource, but encouragement from friends, family, and senior home care providers can also help her stay strong when it’s tough. For changes in daily living, such as getting regular exercise or eating well, a senior home care provider can help her make better food choices by shopping with her to purchase those healthier items and then stepping in to help her learn how to prepare them.

Joining a senior exercise class or finding a hobby that involves regular physical activity is a great way to help your loved one manage her weight and keep active. Senior home care professionals can provide transportation as needed so she can actively participate in those activities.

Encourage your loved one to start small and gradually make changes so they become regular in her routine, making sure she’ll continue to benefit from them for years to come.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care Services in Abbottstown, PA, please get in touch with us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions. In-Home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.

Jessica Ott
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Posted in Cancer, Seniors & Health Issues and tagged