What Doctors Do to Prevent Cancer

Make these simple lifestyle tweaks to minimise your risk of the Big C

- By Larraine Sathicq

WIND DOWN WITHOUT ALCOHOL

I limit myself to one or less standard drinks a day and personally find that less caffeine during the day means less craving for alcohol at night' says Professor Helena Teede, director of research at The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health in Australia.

Alcohol is one of the most well-established causes of cancers of the upper digestive tract, breast, colorectum, liver and stomach.

The more you drink the higher your risk.

For cancer prevention, alcohol should be drunk in moderation, if at all. For me, better ways to wind down after work include exercise, walks with the family or cooking - something non-taxing that involves getting your hands dirty,'Teede says.

EAT COLOUR

I have five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day because they provide phytochemicals and fibre to protect the bowel says Dr Cate Lombard, director of the Healthy Lifestyle Program at Australia's The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health.

The brighter colours in fruit and vegetables mean they contain more anti-cancer chemicals, such as antioxidants like vitamin C, and anthocyanins often associated with the colours in foods like blueberries, carrots and broccoli.

I also exercise - regular moderate activity helps prevent bowel cancer!

GET SOME RAYS

To make sure I have enough vitamin D, I go outside at morning or afternoon teatime, says Professor Rebecca Mason, deputy director of the University of Sydney's Bosch Institute.