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A recent survey of more than 6,000 people has shown that nearly half of the participants felt fairly hopeless about their own ability to do anything to prevent cancer. They seemed to feel as though "everything" causes cancer, and that they are powerless to do anything about it. Additionally, respondents said they felt that there are too many recommendations to follow about cancer prevention, which only makes them more confused and less likely to follow any recommendation at all.
But researchers have long stated that it's possible that people can reduce about two thirds of the cancer cases by adopting healthy behaviors, such as avoiding smoking, eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding excess exposure to sunlight.
Sometimes, the headlines in the news are overwhelming, and it can seem like there's simply too much information to take in. But taking simple, common-sense steps to living a healthy life can make a difference.
Source:
American Association of Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; National Cancer Institute
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