Globally, 15% of all deaths are attributable to cancers, approximately 10 million people per year. It is estimated this number will increase by 50% over the next 15 years. There are an estimated 19.3 million new cases diagnosed per year; the most commonly diagnosed cancers are breast (11.7%), lung (11.4%), colorectal (10.0 %), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (5.6%) cancers.
February is National Cancer Prevention Month which focuses on ways to prevent cancer, including the importance of early detection. Research has shown that more than 40% of diagnosed cancers and nearly half of all deaths from cancer in the United States can be attributed to preventable causes. You can lower your risk of getting many common kinds of cancer by sustaining healthy choices and early screening.
Are there any Supplements that may reduce cancer risk?
We must remember that there are no supplements that can fully treat, cure, or prevent cancer. However, there are some that may help reduce risk, and assist in recovery.
While many supplements provide benefits for your health, supplements are less regulated and often claims for health improvements are not based on evidence. At Dr. Jerry's we strongly believe in the value of nutraceuticals, nutritional supplements that have clinical effects, but we believe they must be thoroughly studied and supported based on medical evidence.
Also, because supplements are less regulated, many products may be low quality and may actually contain harmful materials like heavy metals and toxic substances. It is really important to only buy the highest quality supplements that are produced in a GMP certified facility to ensure optimal quality and safety. At Dr.Jerry's we sampled many competing products from the internet to do comparison testing, and about 90% were very low potency/low quality and many contained toxic substances. Quality really does matter if you want to improve health with natural supplements.
Lastly, it is important to remember that some supplements can interact with cancer therapies, so you should always discuss any supplements with your personal physician before using them.
Some supplements to possibly reduce cancer risk:
- Omega-3 fish oils
- Turmeric
- Vitamin D3
- Methylene Blue
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Green Tea extract
- Selenium
Other Cancer Risk Reduction Tips:
- Don’t smoke or aim to quit (including all tobacco, cannabis, vaping, etc)
- Smoking and secondhand smoke cause 90% of lung cancer deaths in the U.S
- The use of tobacco products is linked to cancers (i.e. larynx, mouth and throat, esophagus, urinary bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, colon, rectum, liver, and stomach)
- Reduce body fat and maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a varied, nutritious, healthy diet of mostly unprocessed natural foods
- Exercise every day, including cardio and strength training
- Protect and maintain healthy sleeping patterns
- Reduce and manage excessive stress
- Overweight/obesity associated with 13 types of cancer, including endometrial (uterine), breast, and colorectal cancer
- Reducing your weight and practicing healthy habits reduces your risk for cancer
- Limit Alcohol Intake
- US Surgeon general and WHO recently announced that any amount of alcohol may increase risk
- Especially heavy drinking/binge drinking increases the risk of breast, liver, colon, rectum, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus cancer
- Protect your skin from excessive sun exposure
- Skin cancer is the most common and preventable cancer in the United States
- Abstain from unsafe sex, Get Vaccinated Against Infectious Diseases
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are linked to many cervical and liver cancer cases
- Know Your Family Health History and Get Regular Cancer Screenings
- Knowing your family health history can help you and your doctor determine screening tests
- Your risk may be elevated if your first or second degree relatives have/had cancer (Parents, Siblings, grandparent)
- Regular cancer screenings are essential to detect cancer or precancerous conditions early before symptoms occur
Resources:
- American Cancer Association
- Reducing Cancer Risk | AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024
- Cancer - Our World in Data
- Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries - PubMed
- https://www.healthline.com/health/anti-cancer-supplements
Life is short, and every day is a gift! DrJerry
Jerry Strohkorb, MD MPH FACOEM