National Cancer Awareness Day: 5 lifestyle tweaks Gen Z needs to know for long-term cancer prevention

Gen Z and millennials are experiencing an unparalleled technological shift, where access to information is quite easy. But under the pressure of growing opportunities for both personal and professional careers, this era also brings a steady rise in the number of health issues, especially deadly diseases such as cancer. If we go by the statistics, in India, cancer cases are rapidly rising among younger adults as compared to others, with 14,61,427 new cases projected in 2022. On

A new study published by the Lancet Public Health focussed on cancer incidences and mortality rates in different generations found that there are 17 types of cancer that are more common in the current generations, particularly in millennials and Gen Z (those who were born in 1980 and 2012).

While on the other hand, some types of cancer were higher in people born in 1990 than in 1955. The 17 types of cancer include- Colorectum, Uterine corpus, Gallbladder, Kidney and Myeloma, Leukemia, Testis, a type of stomach cancer called Noncardia gastric, renal pelvis, Pancreas, Cardiac gastric, Small intestine, Estrogen receptor-positive breast, Non-HPV-associated oral and pharynx (in women), Anus (in men), Kaposi sarcoma, a type of blood cancer (most common in men). Noticing the worrisome data, experts blame the increased consumption of processed foods and packaged foods, smoking and increased sedentary lifestyle.

According to Dr Atul Narayankar, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, making some simple changes in lifestyle choices can help the young generation be safe and healthy, and may also help in preventing developing cancer. On National Cancer Awareness Day, let¡¯s find out what are those simple changes you can also make to make a difference:

5 lifestyle changes GenZ can make to avoid cancer

1: Eat a clean and well-balanced diet

Foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries and leafy greens, fortify the immune system and combat inflammation an underlying factor in various cancers. Moreover, ¡°By reducing meat consumption and opting for whole grains and legumes, younger generations can decrease their exposure to carcinogens often found in processed meats. It is better to get the help of an expert to understand what to eat and what to delete from your diet,¡± said Dr Narayankar.

2: Be physically active

Incorporating easy and regular physical activity into a daily routine can bring a change. A 30-minute physical activity whether it is brisk walking or dancing to favourite playlists can boost your metabolism and promote hormonal balance. Dr Narayankar highlighted, ¡°The connection between exercise and lower cancer risk is backed by science. Not only that but an active lifestyle helps regulate the overall body weight and reduces the risk of cancer.¡±

3: Aim for regular mammograms and breast self-examination

Will help to catch breast cancer early and initiate timely intervention. Keeping in mind the rising breast cancer cases, it will be imperative for young girls to do breast self-examination every month and look for any signs such as lumps in the breast and other symptoms such as tenderness, inverted nipples, and discharge.

4: Quitting smoking

It is a known fact that smoking causes lung cancer. It is the need of the hour to quit smoking and opt for smoking cessation therapy thereby preventing lung cancer.

5: Limiting alcohol

Alcohol is known to cause breast, mouth, and bowel cancer. Some studies indicate that alcohol consumption leads to a higher risk of pancreatic and different types of stomach cancer. ¡°So, avoid alcohol and stay healthy,¡± added Dr Narayankar.