Nearly half of cancer deaths in the U.S. are associated with preventable risk factors — such as smoking and alcohol use — according to a new American Cancer Society study .
Dr. Jon Ebbert , medical director of the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center , says it's never too late to make lifestyle changes that can decrease your risk of cancer. What do tobacco, alcohol and obesity have in common? They can all increase your risk of developing cancer.
Smoked tobacco is strongly linked to cancer in almost every part of the body. "Smoked tobacco produces about 7,000 chemicals, and when you inhale those chemicals in your body, they cause alterations in cells. And it's those alterations in cells that can lead to cancer," says Dr.
Ebbert. He says smoking also weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight cancer cells. One of the best ways to lower your cancer risk is to not use any kind of tobacco.
"We always say it's never too late to stop smoking. And the risk for cancer after quitting cigarette smoking, for example, goes down. But it takes some time," says Dr.
Ebbert. Consuming alcohol increases your risk of breast, head and neck, esophageal, and colorectal cancers. "At every level of alcohol consumption, there is cancer risk, but heavier drinkers have higher cancer risk than lighter drinkers," says Dr.
Ebbert. Finally, packing on extra pounds can increase your risk of cancer in several ways. "Excess body weight increases estrogen and insulin, which can increase the rat.