Don't smoke! - This is one of the most important tips to prevent cancer, especially in the lungs, oral cavity, larynx, pharynx and esophagus.

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Avoid alcoholic drinks - Alcohol consumption, in any amount, contributes to the risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, mixing alcoholic beverages with tobacco increases your chances of developing the disease.

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Avoid excessive exposure to the sun - Excessive exposure to the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, especially if the exposure occurs without protection. Avoid being exposed to the sun between 10am-4pm.

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Use sunscreen every day - Always use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or over, applying it at least 20 minutes before being exposed to the sun and later reapplying it.

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Taking care during adulthood - Over the years, people in the adult stage have already had a lot of exposure to the sun, and should be more mindful of their skin.

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Be aware of changes to your skin - People with light skin, hair and eyes have a greater chance of suffering from skin cancer. This is why they must be cautious and aware of any changes to the spots on their bodies, especially changes in shape and color.

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Daily physical activities - It is important to fit some physical exercise into your routine. Whether you like to walk, dance, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk your dog or take care of the house and garden.

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Healthy eating - Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans are highly nutritional foods. Eating these daily can help to prevent the development of cancer.

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Avoid processed food - Processed foods are rich in a substance called nitrosamine, which is cancerous. This includes canned food and products such as mortadella, ham, salami, bacon and frankfurters.

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Maintain a healthy weight for your height and age - Being overweight increases the chances of developing cancer. This is why it is important to maintain a healthy weight with a good diet and an active lifestyle.

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Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding for the first sixth months of a child's life has benefits for both mother and child. It protects the mother against breast cancer and the children against childhood obesity.

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Medicine - Where possible, avoid execessive use of medicine.

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Environmental risks - Hazardous environments that are rich in chemical substances in the soil and food (such as fertilizers and pesticides) or that have a lot of air pollution can increase the risk of cancer.

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Assess occupational hazards - Some types of work increase the risk of cancer by exposing the worker to risk factors, such as chemical substances, workplace smoking, solar radiation, ionizing radiation (X-rays), to name a few.

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Learn to deal with stress - Stress and anxiety diminish the efficacy of the body’s immune system. Continuous stress reduces the strength of one's immunity and paves the way to a series of diseases, including cancer.

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Oral hygiene - Practice good oral hygiene every day. Pay special attention when brushing your teeth and tongue and don’t forget to visit the dentist regularly.

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Safe sex - Always use protection during sexual intercourse. HPV – a sexually transmitted infection – is the main culprit that is responsible for some types of cancer, such as cervical, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.

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Vaccinate against HPV - Girls between the ages of 9 and 14 years old and boys from 12 to 13 years old should be vaccinated against HPV.

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Preventative screenings - For some types of cancer, such as breast, cervical and bowel (colon), preventative screenings can reduce the mortality risk of these cancers.

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Stool tests - Take this screening test to find out if there is blood in your stool. It should be done every year, or at least every other year. This is especially recommended for women and men over 50.

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Breast cancer and family history - 90% of the women with breast cancer don’t have a family history of cancer. Most of the women who develop this tumor don’t have anyone in their family with the same problem.

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Take extra care - Extra care should be given when the closest female relatives (grandmothers, mother, sisters or daughters) have already had the disease, especially if this is before menopause.

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Mammogram - A mammogram is recommended from the age of 40, but it can be done earlier in some cases. Breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help in early diagnosis.

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The self-exam can save your life! - It is important to do monthly breast self-exams as well as mammograms and other yearly clinical examinations.

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The right time for the self-exam - The self-exam should be done monthly, right after menstruation, as soon as the breasts’ swelling goes down. For the women who don’t have periods anymore, the self-exam can be done on the same day of every month.

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Small tumors don't cause symptoms - Slightly larger tumors may or may not cause visual changes on the breasts. Pay attention to lumps, bloody discharges from the nipples, changes in the armpits, rough skin and bumps, deformation or changes in the shape of the breasts and blisters around the nipple.

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Birth control pills do not increase the risk of breast cancer - Nowadays, contraceptive pills have a low hormonal dosage and recent studies have revealed that they don't post an increased risk of breast cancer as was previously thought.

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Sleeping with a bra and using deodorant doesn't cause breast cancer - There is no study that proves that sleeping with a bra on and using antiperspirants causes breast cancer.

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Not having children is a risk factor - Having children causes a hormonal pause which halts estrogen, which can serve as 'food' for cancer. During breastfeeding, the mammary cells produce milk and multiply less, which reduces the risk of tumors.

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Treatment and Cures - Breast cancer has a 90% chance of being cured if diagnosed early.

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