The founder and lead surgeon of Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology talks about cancer prevention.

Lewisville, TX, — With an estimated 1.7 million Americans likely to be diagnosed with cancer in the coming year, the odds are fairly strong that most people will find themselves directly impacted by this disease either through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one or friend. While not every case of cancer is preventable courtesy of genetic and familial links, there are measures that can greatly reduce overall risks for developing this disease.

“There are many types of cancer that are on the whole largely preventable if people take measures to safeguard their health,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology. “Making the right lifestyle choices, taking steps to get and stay healthy and even avoiding exposure to certain things can all go a very long way in helping just about anyone reduce cancer risks.”

While preventive measure recommendations may vary based on particular cancer type, here are some basic tips people can follow to lower their overall risk of developing cancer down the road:

• Maintaining a healthy weight – Obesity has been strongly linked to a large number of cancers, including pancreatic. Taking steps to address obesity and maintain a healthy weight can dramatically lower cancer risks. In addition, this can also help improve overall health while lowering risks for other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Avoiding tobacco use – Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable cancer in the United States. Proving this point, the number of smoking-associated cancer cases in the U.S. has been on a steady decline right along with the number of smokers. People who use tobacco are strongly urged to talk to their healthcare providers. Even smokeless products have their own associated risks.
• Getting vaccinated – It is possible to get vaccinated to safeguard against some forms of cancer. HPV vaccines for children, for example, are being eyed as a way to greatly reduce the number of cervical and oral cancer cases down the road.
• Understanding personal risks – While certain risks cannot be addressed, such as genetic mutations, people should arm themselves with knowledge about what types of cancer they are at the highest risk for. It is best to speak with a personal healthcare provider to assess risk and identify any risk factors that can be addressed through lifestyle changes, diet, exercise and other proactive measures.

“Not every case of cancer is preventable, but many are,” says Dr. Echt. “Arming yourself with knowledge and then taking action to address risks that can be addressed may greatly lower a person’s odds of facing a diagnosis down the road.”

About Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group
The Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group has state-of-the-art facilities that offer individualized care to patients throughout North Texas. With a team of expert oncologists and other specialists on staff, the Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group treats a variety of cancers and blood disorders with an eye towards the newest advancements available in diagnostic technology and treatments.