Did you know that Cancer is the 3rd cause of deaths in Kenya? It is estimated that there are 39,000 new cancer cases every year in Kenya with 70% of these cases being diagnosed in the late stages which is quite worrying.
60% percent of those living with Cancer are younger than 70 years old.
According to the Kenya Cancer Statistics & National Strategies, the leading cancers in Kenya are;
- Women: Breast (34 per 100,000), Cervical (25 per 100,000)
- Men: Prostate (17 per 100,000), Esophageal (9 per 100,000)
On the 4th of February every year during World Cancer Day the world comes together to promote the need for everyone to collectively come together to call for frequent cancer screenings as a way to curb the cancer menace worldwide.
In the spirit of World Cancer Day, here are 5 tips to keep cancer at bay.
- Be Physically active.
Being active helps keep your body in check and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Living a healthy lifestyle and exercising often helps one avoid being predisposed to the risk factors of cancer like diabetes and obesity.
Epidemiological studies carried out in developed countries indicate that engaging in lots of physical activity could lower your risk of getting Cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer by upto 16%.
So next time you are about to use the lift, take the stairs to the office and squeeze in a little work out! You can keep track of your fitness with fitness aids such as weighing scales and self-test kits for conditions such as Diabetes. These go a long way in ensuring you remain in tip-top shape!
- Green Tea, green tea and more green tea
According to canceresearchuk.org, the substance in green tea that researchers think is most helpful is called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is available as green tea extract which some people take as a supplement in liquid or capsules.
Drinking at least 2 cups of green tea could help keep cancer at bay. This is because Green Tea contains antioxidants that have been proven to help prevent breast, prostate and colon cancers.
Put down the coffee from time to time and enjoy a cuppa green tea goodness!
- Take Care Of Your Sexual And Reproductive Health
Having safe sex is definitely the wave! Using condoms and visiting your gynae often could help curb and identify early symptoms of conditions such as Human Papilloma Virus which may put one at risk of contracting cervical cancer. Next time you want to get things steamy, be sure to strap up!
- Eat Right!
Eat your way to your body goals and far away from Cancer. Did you know that some of your fave foods put you at risk of cancer? Studies have shown that when meat is grilled at high temperatures, it leads to the formation of carcinogenic compounds which may expose one to the risk of getting cancer. Put down all the smoked, pickled or fried foods and include more fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. A few supplements wouldn’t hurt as well.
- Get Check-ups regularly
Did you know that you there is a 80% possibility of complete treatment and management of cancer if it is detected early? According to the Kenyan National Control Cancer Strategy;
30% of cancers are curable if detected early; 30% of cancers are treatable with prolonged survival if detected early; 30% of cancer patients can be provided with adequate symptom management and palliative care.
Getting regular check ups is a great way to ensure that you are in tip top shape.
What are some of the strategies that can be used to ensure that more people take part in cancer screening activities within Kenya? Sound off in the comments below and together let’s keep cancer at bay for good!
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