Cancer is still one of the biggest scourges for the world community, including Indonesia. This very dangerous and deadly disease can attack anyone without a desert. However, cancer is a preventable disease.
In 2018, the number of cancer sufferers in Indonesia rose from 1.4% to 1.8%. This increase puts Indonesia in 8th place with the most cancer cases in Southeast Asia, and 23rd in Asia. The good news, about 30–50% of all types of cancer can be prevented.
How to prevent cancer early
Cancer prevention must be done early and start now. The reason is, there are several types of cancer that can occur without causing any initial symptoms at all.
Generally, cancer can occur when the body's cells experience abnormalities in their genetic material, so that these cells divide without control. So to prevent cancer, we have to make sure our body cells are in a healthy state. Steps you can take to prevent cancer are:
1. Eat healthy food
In order to avoid cancer, you need to get adequate nutritional intake. Expand the consumption of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, so that the body gets the good nutrients it needs and increases endurance.
In addition, limit the consumption of processed foods that tend to be high in calories, unhealthy fats, and added sugars, and can increase fat accumulation. It is known to increase the risk of developing cancer. Examples of processed foods are: nuggets, sausages, instant noodles, and canned fruit and vegetables.
2. Exercise regularly
Maintaining an ideal body weight is the key to preventing cancer. In addition to consuming healthy foods, maintaining weight can also be achieved by exercising regularly.
In a study also stated that being physically active can reduce the risk of cancer by 10-20%. You can do any sport you like. However, make sure to do it regularly, for at least 30 minutes a day.
3. Avoid cigarette smoke and alcoholic beverages
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for cancer. In addition to lung cancer, smoking can also increase the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus, throat, mouth, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix.
The impact of smoking does not only apply to active smokers. Passive smokers are also at risk of developing cancer. Therefore, stop smoking and avoid inhaling free cigarette smoke from now on.
In addition to smoking, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages can also increase your risk for developing cancer. This is because alcohol has carcinogenic properties that can damage body cells and trigger cancer.
4. Perform early detection
In its early stages, cancer often causes no symptoms. Symptoms are usually only felt after the cancer is in an advanced stage. Therefore, you need to detect cancer early as one way to prevent this disease.
You are advised to have an initial examination or screening on a regular basis, especially for those of you who are at high risk of suffering from certain cancers.
5. Protect yourself with insurance
Health insurance is a form of self-protection that is important for everyone. Having insurance will make it easier and easier for you to undergo examination and treatment, especially for cancer which usually costs a lot of money.
You should not be arbitrary in choosing health insurance. Choose health insurance that is easy to register. So, you don't have to mess around with many registration requirements. Also choose insurance that provides a choice of nominal premium payments so that it can be adjusted to your abilities.
In addition, make sure the health insurance you choose provides 100% coverage if you are diagnosed with cancer. Finally, make sure that the process of submitting an insurance claim is easy and fast so that it will not be a hassle for you.
Protect you and your family from cancer by preventing cancer early in the ways above. In addition, strengthen your self-protection by having health insurance, because cancer can still occur even though all prevention efforts have been made.
If you still have questions about how to prevent cancer or the risk of cancer to yourself and your family members, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.