New approaches to reduce risk of cancer: a mini literature review

Abstract

Cancer is the first or second leading cause of death before the age of 70 years in over 100 countries and ranks third or fourth in over 20 countries with 19 million new cancer cases and over 9 million mortalities in the year 2020 alone. Due to the high cost of cancer treatment, inefficiency in the eradication of all cancer cells and inaccessible healthcare for a large population in developing countries, the education of policy makers and the public in general on cancer prevention or cancer risk reduction measures is of utmost importance. These include the re-use of medications such as aspirin, foods such as soy and soy protein, vigorous intermittent physical activity, healthy eating (nutrition and diet) and vaccination. We aim to highlight and reiterate the importance of different approaches that reduce the risk of cancer, which may be alien or unknown in our society. These include the inclusion of foods such as soy and soy protein in our diet, vigorous intermittent physical activity, healthy eating (nutrition and diet) in general, vaccination and investment in the research of already existing drugs with known toxicity profiles.

The fact that a large number of cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries cannot afford therapy, means there is a dire need for prevention measures to be exploited and integrated alongside conventional cancer therapy. Policy makers and the public in general should be educated on these measures to relieve the financial and emotional burden on patients and society as a whole.