In this blog, senior editor Tess looks back at a year where we’ve lost a number of well-loved people in the public eye, and looks ahead to 2017 with some positive ideas for New Year’s resolutions that can reduce everyone’s cancer risk.
In 2016 we’ve had to say goodbye to far too many of our favourite famous faces. And because sadly the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is growing, it’s not surprising that quite a few of them died from cancer.
The year got off to a sad start when David Bowie died of liver cancer and Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer in January. And as 2016 went on, we lost Paul Daniels to a brain tumour, and Terry Wogan and Victoria Wood to cancer. Caroline Aherne died of lung cancer in July, and in the video below (courtesy of ITN) you can watch her talking about her diagnosis and treatment at the launch of the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership in Manchester in 2014:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qckiUxKSI4E
You might also have lost a family member or friend to cancer this year. We know that Christmas can be an especially difficult time if you have, and our support line is here for you if you need us. You might also find our information about bereavement helpful. This information is also available as a free booklet.
Looking ahead to 2017
As 2016 comes to an end, as well as looking back at the year, we’re all starting to think about moving forwards into 2017. And if you're planning your New Year's resolutions, why not think about healthy changes you can make that will also reduce your cancer risk? Below are some ideas.
Give up smoking
If you smoke, then giving up is the healthiest change you can make. Smokers are much more likely to get cancer than non-smokers. And over a quarter of all cancer deaths (28%) in the UK are caused by smoking.
Our information about giving up smoking covers all the benefits of giving up. It also has practical advice about how to stop smoking and stay stopped.
Eat healthily
January’s always a time when people start trying to eat more healthily after over-indulging at Christmas. But did you know that a well-balanced diet can also reduce your cancer risk? Experts think that up to 1 in 10 cancers (10%) in the UK may be linked to diet.
For a well-balanced diet:
Keep to a healthy weight
Being overweight increases the risk of many types of cancer. Try to keep your weight within the normal range for your height – you can find out what this is in the chart below:
If you’re overweight, the best way to lose weight is by eating a well-balanced diet and being more physically active.
Get active
Physical activity is a great way to get in shape after a few too many mince pies at Christmas. And even better, doing regular physical activity can reduce the risk of cancer.
If you’re not sure which type of exercise to try or how much to do, the infographic below shows the recommendations for adults in the UK:
Cut down on alcohol
Alcohol has been linked with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer. The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk of cancer.
NHS guidelines suggest that both men and women should:
A unit of alcohol is half a pint of ordinary strength beer, lager or cider, one small glass (125ml) of wine, or a single measure (25ml) of spirits.
Take care in the sun and don’t use sunbeds
The thought of sunshine feels very far off at the moment. But if you like looking tanned all year round, use fake-tanning lotions or sprays. Avoid using sunbeds or sunlamps, as this can increase your risk of skin cancers.
And when the sun does come out, protect your skin from burning. If you’re going to be out in the sun for longer than a few minutes, use a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. It should also have a UVA star rating of 4 or 5.
You may already have been thinking about some of the New Year’s resolutions listed in this blog, as you probably knew they were good decisions for your health. But knowing they can also reduce your cancer risk will hopefully motivate you to make 2017 the year you make these changes. For more tips or information about any of them, you can order our free booklets.
We also have more information about reducing your cancer risk. It’s available as a free booklet too.
Photo credits
David Bowie – Jimmy King. Alan Rickman – Grant Pollard/Invision/AP. Victoria Wood – Getty Images. Paul Daniels – Paul Daniels Magic World. Terry Wogan – BBC. Caroline Aherne – PA.
To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.
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