The assessment, which is free and confidential, provides a woman with an understanding of her risk of developing reproductive cancer and a detailed plan for lowering her risks. The risk assessment can provide women with some piece of mind or some thought-provoking findings that they should discuss with their physician. Lowering your risk Diet, exercise and lifestyle changes play a significant role in the prevention of cancer. For example, studies have shown that diets rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and low in fat, can be protective against cancer. Increased levels of vitamin C also appears to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Weight control can help reduce the risk of endometrial and uterine cancers.
Quitting smoking, important to overall health, can lower your risk of cervical and vaginal cancers. Oral contraceptives also can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by half if used for five or more years. The use of birth control pills also offers some protection against uterine cancer. Furthermore, knowing your family history can increase your chance of early diagnosis and can help you take action toward prevention. Finally, screening and self-examinations, conducted regularly, can detect certain types of reproductive cancers in their earlier stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful.