Nourish
A balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables will help you maintain a healthy weight. Every year about 1,000 Manitobans are diagnosed with a cancer related to an unhealthy diet and another 400 of all cancers diagnosed annually in Manitobans are weight-related.
Follow Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and you can reduce your overall cancer risk! Choose high fibre, whole grain, and enriched products. Eat five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and choose dark green and orange fruits and vegetables. Opt for lower-fat milk products. Select leaner meats, poultry, and fish, as well as dried peas, beans, and lentils. Limit alcohol to less than one drink per day for women and less than two drinks per day for men.
Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. More than 800 Manitobans die annually because they smoked or were exposed to secondhand or “passive” smoke.
Eliminating smoking is the single leading action you can take to prevent cancer. If you are a smoker, quit now and reduce your lung cancer risk by up to 90%! Millions of Canadians have quit smoking and you can too! Talk to your health care professional to learn how they can help you quit.
Clear
Regular screening tests and visits to your doctor and dentist can help find cancer at an early stage. The earlier cancer is found, the more successful the treatment is likely to be.
Follow cancer screening guidelines and report any health changes to your doctor or dentist. Get to know your body. Tell your doctor or dentist about any changes you notice as soon as possible, like sores that don’t heal or a cough that lasts more than a couple of weeks. Health care professionals are trained to spot the early warning signs of cancer and other diseases.
Women are encouraged to discuss breast exams, mammography, and Pap tests with a health professional. And men are encouraged to talk about testicular and prostate health with a health professional. Both men and women should also discuss screening for colorectal cancer at age 50.
Being active is important to staying healthy and helping to maintain a healthy body weight. Regular exercise can reduce your risk of colon cancer and may also reduce your risk of breast cancer. It can also reduce stress, increase energy levels and improve your outlook on life.
Staying active doesn’t need to mean running a marathon or spending hours at a gym. Take a walk once a day or choose the stairs instead of the elevator. Spend less time in front of the television or computer. Play actively with your kids. Walk, wheel or cycle for short trips or use nearby walking and cycling paths.
Regular screening tests and visits to your doctor and dentist can help find cancer at an early stage. The earlier cancer is found, the more successful the treatment is likely to be.
Follow cancer screening guidelines and report any health changes to your doctor or dentist. Get to know your body. Tell your doctor or dentist about any changes you notice as soon as possible, like sores that don’t heal or a cough that lasts more than a couple of weeks. Health care professionals are trained to spot the early warning signs of cancer and other diseases.
Women are encouraged to discuss breast exams, mammography, and Pap tests with a health professional. And men are encouraged to talk about testicular and prostate health with a health professional. Both men and women should also discuss screening for colorectal cancer at age 50.
