In many cases, cancer is something that develops because of certain lifestyle choices. Of course smoking or sunning yourself can lead to cancer. So can exposure to certain toxins and just in general an unhealthy lifestyle. However, there are steps you can take to help prevent cancer. This doesn't mean you won't ever get some form of cancer; sometimes you're just predisposed to cancer. But, it means that you are doing all you can to stay healthy. 

How You Can Prevent Cancer from Happening to You

If you do have a family history of cancer, then you probably don't want to do things that raise your chances even higher of getting cancer. Here's what you can do to hopefully prevent it.

1. Reduce your sugar intake. It has been proven that cancer develops in an environment that is rich in glucose.
  Less oxygen and more sugar raise your risk of getting cancer.

2. Maintain a proper pH (potential Hydrogen) in your body. A nice high pH level is more oxygen-rich and an environment in which cancers do not do well. So keep your pH above 7.0. To do this, drink a lot of water, eliminate soda, reduce the amount of meat you eat, minimize your consumption of sweets, and eat a lot of raw vegetables. 

3. Exercise regularly. It doesn't really matter what kind of exercise - just keep moving.

4. Get enough sleep. Your body needs that time or rest to rejuvenate cells, so make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep.

5. Vitamin and mineral supplements will help maintain healthy body chemistry.

6. Don't use tobacco products. This goes for smoking or chewing. Tobacco products are linked to many different types of Cancer including lung, bladder, cervix, kidney, oral cavity, and pancreas. Avoid tobacco products at all costs and you'll decrease your risks of developing cancer greatly.

7. Protect yourself from the sun. Use sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Reapply frequently.  Cover yourself with clothing. Wear dark colors. Wear a hat. Avoid midday sun. Stay in the shade. Avoid tanning beds and lights.

8. Stay up to date on your immunizations. Protecting yourself from certain types of viruses will limit your chances of getting some cancers. Hepatitis B and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) are two vaccines you should be sure you have. 

9. Avoid risky behavior which can lead to infections. This means practicing safe sex and don't share needles. HIV or AIDS increases a person's chance of getting cancer of the anus, liver, or lungs. HPV as mentioned above is associated with cervical cancer. This is a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing needles increases your chances of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. So this is all stuff you want to avoid.

10. Stay on top of your medical care. Seeing your doctor regularly and screening for cancers will help you diagnose a problem early, possibly preventing it from turning into cancer.

These ten things are just some ways you can take cancer into your own hands and reduce your risk of getting it. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but you will feel much better if you follow these tips.