• 30 - 40% of cancers can be
reduced through lifestyle factors
• These include:
• Diet
• Exercise
• The avoidance of cancer
causing agents (called
carcinogens)
• Eat seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables (variety
is key)
• Choose wholegrains (high in fibre)
• Limit your red meat intake (rather eat fish,
beans, lentils and soya)
• Avoid processed foods (bacon, sausages, etc.)
• Drink plenty of clean, safe water (adults, as
guideline – 8 glasses a day) instead of sugary
drinks
• Decrease your salt and sugar intake
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Avoid carcinogens
• Participate in at least 30 minutes of
physical activity each day (5 or more
days a week)
• Protect yourself from the sun and
always apply sunscreen regularly
(SPF 20-50) according to skin type
• Go for regular screening
• Read your food labels to know the
content and additives
• Poor diet
• Lots of salt and sugar
• Diet consisting of processed foods
• Inactivity
• Being overweight
• Carcinogens (cancer-causing agents):
• Alcohol (try to avoid)
• Smoking (all tobacco products including
hookah and e-cigarettes)
• Not going for regular cancer screening
• A healthy weight is defined (for adults) as a
Body Mass Index (BMI) in the range of 18.5
to 25.0
• BMI can be used to indicate if you are
overweight, obese, underweight or normal
• How to calculate your BMI* 
BMI = [weight in kilograms (kg)] divided (÷)
by [height in metres (m)]2
• Getting to and staying at a healthy weight is
important to reduce the risk of cancer and
other chronic diseases
*Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several cancers,
including those of the breast (in women, post-menopause),
colorectal, endometrium (the lining of the uterus), oesophagus,
pancreas, and kidney, amongst others
• Obesity has become a global epidemic – ±1.3 billion people are
overweight or obese
• In a recent survey*, it was found that 61% of the South African
population is overweight, obese or morbidly obese
• More South African adults now die from obesity than from poverty
• Being overweight can increase cancer risk in many ways. One of the
main ways is that excess weight causes the body to produce and
circulate more oestrogen and insulin, hormones that can stimulate
cancer growth
• Obesity is also linked to non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes
mellitus, coronary heart disease and hypertension
*conducted by the SA Medical Research Council
• CANSA wants you to remember – it’s what comes into your home that
matters, so shop wisely. Your trolley should contain a wide variety of
foods and incorporate items from each of the following:
CANSA’s Mobile Health Clinics travel to
remote areas in SA to provide screening
(also available at some CANSA Care Centres):
• Clinical breast examinations
• SureTouch - screening for breast cancer
• Pap smears - screening test for early diagnosis of cervical cancer
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests – fingerprick blood test to help
detect prostate abnormalities
• FotoFinder screening - mole mapping dermoscope devices for
detecting skin cancer
• Colorectal cancer screening - testing for occult (concealed) blood in
stool
Please contact your nearest CANSA Care Centre
regarding the availability and fee of screening services