As your loved one ages, cancer may become more of a pressing worry. Several cancers can manifest in those over the age of 60, so it’s no wonder that many caregivers start asking what they can do to help their loved ones avoid cancer around that age. You can’t always prevent cancer, but as a caregiver there are things you can do to help reduce the risks of cancer in your loved one.
Be Vigilant about Sun Protection
Skin cancer is caused by sun damage and exposure to ultraviolet light. The risk of this type of cancer can be reduced by taking precautions, which include staying indoors between 10am to 4pm, when you are more likely to catch sunburn. Other things you can do to help your loved one is ensure that they have access to the shade whenever possible, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and wear clothes that cover their skin. While spending time in nature is beneficial as you get older, it’s equally important to take the necessary precautions outdoors.
Encourage Them to Stop Smoking
Did you know that tobacco smoke contains 250 harmful chemicals, 60 of which are proven to cause cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx and lungs? It’s not just the smoker who is affected either – just breathing in secondhand smoke can also increase your risk of contracting cancer. If your loved one smokes, encourage them to reduce their risk of cancer by quitting. Try and ensure that your loved one isn’t exposed to environments where they will have to breathe secondhand smoke either.
Help them Eat Healthy
A healthy diet reduces the risk of cancer. A diet comprising plant-based foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables is a great way to combat cancer. Many of these foods contain bioactive properties that have anti-cancer effects. The value of eating well cannot be discounted when it comes to good health in general, so try and ensure that your loved one’s diet is balanced and rich in nutrients.
Encourage them to Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to keep cancer at bay. Keeping trim can lower the risk of several types of cancers, such as those of the kidneys, colon and prostate. Being overweight is often interlinked to your body having high levels of insulin, which is one of the contributing factors of cancer. Encourage healthy habits such as regular exercise and maintaining a good diet to help your loved one keep trim.
Regular Doctor’s Visits
Schedule regular visits with your loved one’s doctors so that they can get cancer screenings. These screenings are recommended to help you detect breast, skin and colon cancer. Regular screenings also mean more chances for doctors to catch irregularities such as skin abnormalities. You should start having regular colonoscopies at the age of 50, while women over the age of 60 should have mammograms once every 2 years. Catching cancer early is often the biggest way to stopping it before it becomes a serious problem.
