Research shows that half of all cancer cases are preventable through lifestyle and diet modifications, but Dr. Robert Wascher, a surgical oncologist, says he knows that people are confused by information about prevention strategies. So he carefully reviewed the latest evidence-based research findings on cancer prevention tactics.

The result is “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” what he calls an “honest, authentic, and objective examination of what we really know.”

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The airwaves and Internet inundate us with cancer information — from celebrity stories and so-called facts grounded in little research to anecdotal information and legitimate medical studies. Through his exhaustive research, Wascher created a guide that details real steps people can take to help lower their risk. They include:

Quitting Smoking More than four decades after the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report about the dangers of smoking, it is still the No. 1 preventable cause of cancer in the United States and worldwide, and lung cancer is still the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths here, he says. Cancers of the head, neck, pancreas, colon, and other cancers also are linked to smoking.

Eating a Mediterranean-Type Diet A diet rich in meat and other sources of saturated animal fat is linked to cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, such as stomach and esophageal cancers. But studies have shown populations that eat a Mediterranean diet, one that is low in red meat and rich in fish, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, have fewer cancer risks and deaths and less cardiovascular disease, Wascher notes.

Watching Calorie and Alcohol Intake Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily is associated with cancers of the breast, prostate, head, neck, colon, and other cancers. Obesity and a lack of exercise are cancer risk factors. Also, obesity puts one at risk for diabetes, which, in turn, is a cancer risk factor.

Wascher found many reasons to be optimistic about developing cancer treatments. Advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques are resulting in less pain and more rapid recovery for patients, he says. Also, advances in molecular biology are allowing for customized therapy of individual tumors.

“Increasingly, this sort of individualized approach to cancer treatment is going to define the future of cancer care in our country in contrast to the one-size-fits-all approach that we have historically used to treat cancer patients,” he says.

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