Life Essentials Magazine - June 2017

SKIP THE ALCOHOL
Don’t be fooled that alcohol can
help prevent cancer. Wine has only been
touted as a preventive measure because it
is made with grapes, which have cancerfighting
properties. Drinking lots of
alcohol increases, not decreases, your risk
of cancer.
LOOK FOR AN EASILY-
ACCESSIBLE DOCTOR
Look for a doctor who is open and easily
accessible. You will want to be able to ask
any questions you have. You must get your
questions and concerns addressed right away.
JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP
Consider joining a support group
for people with cancer. Regardless of how
long you’ve lived with your diagnosis, you
can get extra support and help. You can
speak with other patients about how to
mentally and physically cope with having
cancer. Many groups encourage family
members to attend as well.
MINIMIZE SUN EXPOSURE
Make sure your skin is always
covered when you are outside in the
sunlight, so as to reduce your chances
of getting melanomas, which are
also known as skin cancer. The sun’s
ultraviolet rays can be harmful to the
skin. If you get skin cancer, it can be
fatal. Many experts recommend using
a product with an SPF rating of 30 or
higher, especially if your skin is fair.
Try not to be in the direct sun from 10 am
to 3 pm. If you must spend lots of time
outdoors, it should be done outside of
those hours. Doing so will decrease your
chances of getting skin damage, which also
reduces the odds of developing cancer.
118 | June 2017