The IAA One Minute Blog

According to the American Cancer Society, the estimated amount of new cancer cases in 2018 will be 1,735,350. February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a good time to learn ways you can reduce your risk of cancer.

What is Cancer?

Everyone knows the word, but what actually is cancer?

Cancer is a genetic disease, meaning cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. Certain gene changes can cause cells to evade normal growth controls and become cancer.

Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

Risk Factors

It is not usually possible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another doesn’t. Research has shown, however, that certain risk factors may increase a person’s chances of developing cancer. They include:

• Age
• Alcohol
• Cancer causing substances
• Chronic inflammation
• Diet
• Hormones
• Immunosuppression
• Infectious agents
• Obesity
• Radiation
• Sunlight
• Tobacco

Genetic changes that promote cancer can be inherited from our parents if the changes are present in the reproductive cells of the body.  Inherited genetic mutations play a major role in about five to 10 percent of all cancers.

Reduce Your Risk

Simple lifestyle changes can make a difference:

1. Don’t use tobacco: Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer including cancer of the: lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidney. Even if you don’t use tobacco, exposure to second hand smoke might increase your risk of lung cancer.
2. Eat a healthy diet: While making healthy choices at the grocery store and mealtime can’t guarantee cancer prevention, it might reduce the risk.
3. Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active: Maintaining a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney.
4. Protect yourself from the sun: Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer—and one of the most preventable.
5. Get regular medical care: Regular self-exams and screenings for various types of cancers can increase your chances of discovering cancer early. 

Even small steps can make a big difference!

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to help spread awareness on cancer prevention. Take the time to help make others aware by sharing this blog post with friends, family and colleagues. IAA knows that a little support can go a long way!

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