Anyone can have a hand in cancer prevention. All you have to do is look for ways to make healthier decisions for you and your family. This could mean eating more servings of fruits and vegetables or steering clear of harmful second-hand smoke. Taking a step back and finding areas to change can be the most challenging part of fighting cancer. When you take the bait to become healthier, remember to tailor your program to fit specific needs for your body.

The first step in the fight against cancer is to take a look at your family history. The University of Texas' MD Anderson's Cancer Center web site reports that five to ten percent of cancer cases can come from a person's genetic make-up. The flip side of this statistic is that ninety percent of cancer cases can be controlled by the individual.

If someone in your family has battled cancer, researchers are now able to perform specific tests to find out if you carry altered genes which can cause certain types of cancers. The responsibility of getting the necessary tests and screenings lies with the individual.

Part of cancer prevention comes with heeding this responsibility and not ignoring the warning signs cancer gives to its victims. Research like this will help you to know if you should focus your efforts on breast and cervical cancer prevention or arthritis cancer prevention.

Aside from genetics, the most important part of cancer prevention is eating a well-balanced diet. This means incorporating more fruits and vegetables, meats that are low in fat and plenty of heart-healthy whole grains into your diet.

Certain vegetables, such as tomatoes and broccoli, carry antioxidants that support cancer prevention. If you can't eat all your servings at one sitting, try to snack on them throughout the day. And because today's society is surrounded by processed foods, reading nutrition labels is important when going to the store. Avoid foods that tend to be high in saturated fats, high fructose corn syrups and hydrogenated oils of any kind.

Once you have figured out how to eat healthier, the next step you should take is finding time to exercise. Finding ways to exercise does not mean you have to join a gym and hire a personal trainer. Exercise can come in simple forms, like vacuuming, walking your dog or playing with your children.

Doctors just recommend that you get at least thirty minutes of physical activity 3 to 4 times a week. Find ways to make exercising fun for you and your family by going for walks together or buying everyone bicycles. Not only will this help you include exercising into your weekly routine, but you will also be teaching your loved ones how to live healthier.

Cancer prevention involves changing habits, especially the bad ones. The University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Research web site reports that 87 percent of lung cancer victims were smokers. More and more research comes out every year about the harmful affects of smoking, and stopping this degenerative habit is a crucial part in the fight against cancer.

The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation's fall 2006 newsletter conveyed that even second-hand smoke can increase a person's risk of heart disease by twenty-five to thirty percent and can increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer by twenty to thirty percent. Don't give cancer to your children - stop smoking now.

Genetics can hinder a person's efforts at cancer prevention. But asking your doctor for the proper screenings can assist in your efforts to live a healthy life. Prevention also means finding ways to improve your diet and incorporate more physical activity into your day.

Avoiding unhealthy habits that increase your risks of certain cancers should be first on your lists of to-dos. Cancer prevention does not have to be a hard task, but it could be one of the most important decisions you make in life.