A Mayo Clinic physician reminded northwest Ontario residents Wednesday night that as cancer becomes increasingly common, certain lifestyles and behaviors either prevent or contribute to people s risk of cancer. Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician in the Department of General Internal Medicine in Rochester, Minn., and a native of Manitoba, told a large gathering of Mayo Clinic patients at the Valhalla Inn that individual lifestyles can play a primary role in cancer prevention. Dr. Pruthi emphasized key areas that can help individuals minimize their risk of getting certain kinds of cancer. Increased fat intake can lead to obesity and heart disease and may increase a person s risk of certain cancers, especially cancers of the lung, colon, rectum, breast, endometrium and prostate.
Limit intake to two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women.
The effect of tobacco and alcohol combines to increase the risk of oral and esophageal cancers, according to Dr. Pruthi. And insoluble fiber, such as wheat bran and whole wheat cereals, is thought to help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Dr. Pruthi advises people to eat a variety of grains, legumes and plantains every day. In addition to cancer-protecting benefits, foods high in fiber also provide important B vitamins and minerals. According to Dr. Pruthi, tobacco is a major risk factor for cancers of the throat and lungs and can contribute to cancers of the pancreas, cervix, kidneys and bladder.