9 WAYS TO CUT YOUR CANCER RISK

Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with this often deadly disease, but there are simple things you can do to stack the odds in your favour

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It's not a fact that any of us want to dwell on, but one in two Brits born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime*. Despite these sobering stats, a more positive report by the University of London reveals that with greater awareness and better treatment, premature cancer deaths could, in fact, be wiped out by 2050. Start building your defences now with these cornerstones of cancer prevention.

1 QUIT SMOKING

'Smoking is linked to an increased risk of lung, head, and neck, oesophagus, stomach, liver, breast, bowel, bladder, kidney and skin cancers, explains NHS consultant oncologist, Professor Robert Thomas. 'As well as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic.' It's never too late to give up, and there's an NHS support service to help you.

DO IT Call the National Smokefree Helpline: 0300 123 1044.

2 SLOW DOWN WHEN IT COMES TO BOOZE

Drinking alcohol was linked to one in 25 cancer cases in 2020**. 'Alcohol can increase the risk of a range of cancers, particularly mouth and oesophagus, bowel, breast, prostate and liver,' says Professor Thomas.

DO IT Keep your alcohol intake below 14 units a week by having a couple of booze-free days. One 175ml glass of 13% ABV wine contains 2.3 alcohol units. Find out more about alcohol units at drinkaware.co.uk.

3 WATCH YOUR WEIGHT