As if we need reminding. Booze, cigarettes, sunbeds, obesity and lack of exercise all increase the risk of cancer. But if you follow a from the world鈥檚 foremost cancer body, you could halve your risk of getting it, claim the researchers who compiled it.
鈥淚t includes more than 10 years鈥� worth of scientific evidence,鈥� says Joachim Sch眉z, who helped put together the code for the in Lyon, France. 鈥淪moking remains the major cause, but we鈥檝e added risks not apparent last time the code was updated in 2003,鈥� he says.
The updated guidelines include recommendations for , which causes cervical cancer. is recommended for all newborns to protect against liver cancer. In the UK, it is currently only recommended for babies at high risk of the virus because their mother is a carrier.
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Another addition is advice for , because this reduces their risk of developing breast cancer. 鈥淚t reduces mums鈥� cancer risk, but the public are not generally aware of this,鈥� says co-investigator, Lawrence von Karsa, also at IARC. 鈥淟ikewise, increases risk of breast cancer so we鈥檝e warned about that.鈥�
The code has been carefully worded to be a reminder to avoid unnecessary risks, rather than a hectoring, 鈥渘anny state鈥� style decree. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meant to be an authoritative reference people can consult, and something they can rely on,鈥� says Sch眉z.
However, the researchers admit that following the code to the letter can鈥檛 be guaranteed to prevent cancer. It鈥檚 about reducing risk, says von Karsa.
12 ways to reduce your cancer risk
Do not smoke any form of tobacco
Make your home smoke-free
Maintain a healthy weight
Be physically active, and don鈥檛 sit for too long
Eat healthily. This means whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits, rather than lots of red meat. Avoid foods high in calories, sugar or fat
Limit your intake of alcohol, or preferably, abstain
Avoid too much sun, and don鈥檛 use sunbeds
In the workplace, protect yourself against cancer-causing substances by following health and safety instructions
Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home. If so, take action to reduce high radon levels
For women: if you can, breastfeed your baby. Limit your use of hormone replacement therapy
Ensure children take part in vaccination programmes for: hepatitis B (for newborns), human papillomavirus (HPV) (for girls)
Take part in organised cancer screening programmes for: bowel cancer (men and women), breast cancer (women), cervical cancer (women)
