Dr. Weeks’ Comment: Cancer is on the rise. More than 1 in 8 women in America will get breast cancer. And in England, more are 14 times more likely to get cancer than are women. Why? Because of lifestyle factors. Is any government doing research about improving lifestyle factors? Nope. Not to speak of. The governments are too busy supporting the agenda of Big Pharma (the largest and most powerful lobby in the USA!) We have the anti-cancer strategy which is proven to be most cost effective: Corrective health doctors focus on improving lifestyle as well killing cancer cells.
“”By making lifestyle changes many thousands of cases of cancer in men could be prevented.”
Men get cancer more than women because of poor lifestyles
Men in Britain are much more susceptible to cancer than women because of their poor lifestyles, a world health expert has warned.
Figures show that men are 14 per cent more likely to develop the disease than their female counterparts in England.
But this is “not inevitable” claims Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), and is mainly down to their bad diet and alcohol consumption.
Men score higher on almost all cancer risk factors apart from physical activity, where they do more of this than women.
But surveys have shown they are less aware of the link between lifestyle and the disease, which has led WCRF to produce a Men’s Health Guide to improve their knowledge of how they can help protect themselves.
In 2008 there were 156,594 deaths from cancer in the UK – 81,587 men and 75,007 women.
Cancer causes 28 per cent of deaths among men, the second highest after heart and circulatory disease at 37 per cent.
Dr Thompson said: “Men have higher rates of many diseases than women so it might sometimes seem like this is just a fact of life.
“But while it is true that there are some biological reasons for the difference, we need to get across the message that the higher rates of cancer in men are not inevitable.
“By making relatively simple lifestyle changes such as eating more fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and cutting down on alcohol, men can make a real difference to their cancer risk.
“But it is a concern that as well as having, on average, less healthy habits than women, men are also less aware of the potential consequences of these habits.
“This is because unless they are aware of how cancer can be prevented, they are not in a position to make their own informed choices.”
The five most common cancers in men are prostate with about 36,100 cases diagnoses each year followed by lung (22,300), bowel (21,000), mouth and throat (5,400) and oesophageal (5,200).
Dr Thompson said: “Each year nearly 150,000 men are diagnosed with cancer.
“By making lifestyle changes many thousands of cases of cancer in men could be prevented.”
Government figures show 66 per cent of men in England are overweight, compared to 57 per cent of women.
They also do not eat enough fruit and veg while eating more fats, sugars and preservatives and drinking sugary drinks than women.
In 2007, 31 per cent of men in England reported drinking more than the recommended limit of 21 units of alcohol a week.
The Men’s Health Guide includes information about risk factors, the most common types of cancer in men and practical advice on making healthy changes, including activity ideas and recipes.
Jessica Harris, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information officer, said: “Men are more likely to develop cancer than women, but living healthily can reduce cancer risk for both sexes.
“Not smoking, drinking less alcohol, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, eating a healthy balanced diet and enjoying the sun safely can all make a big contribution to cutting the chance of developing cancer.
“Small changes to lifestyle habits can make a big difference to cancer risk.”