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Till a few years ago, cancer was usually thought to be affecting people over the age of 50. However, due to changes in lifestyle and diets, this dreaded disease has become increasingly prevalent in youngsters.

According to recent studies, Gen X and millennial Americans are at a higher risk of developing at least 17 cancers as compared to older generations, which include colon cancer – the rate of which has spiked by 15 per cent in adults 18-44 years old over the last 20 years.

“So many of my patients were told they were too young to worry about colorectal cancer,” Dr. Elena Stoffel, a University of Michigan professor of gastroenterology, told the New York Post. “But we all know nobody’s ever too young for cancer,” she added. University of Michigan physicians are now sharing five important yet easy ways that can help reduce your risk of early-onset cancer. A few of these are:

According to the World Health Organisation, there are more than 1.25 billion tobacco users across the world, with many getting cancers in their lifetimes. Smoking is responsible for 20 per cent of the US cancer cases and almost 30 per cent of deaths.

Due to excessive smoking, lung cancer cases and deaths are now expected to grow significantly in the next 25 years.

And so, studies say most lung cancer deaths worldwide could be prevented over 70 years by banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to Gen Zers born between 2006 and 2010.

According to studies, your eating habits affect your chances of developing many types of cancer. Experts say a high-fat and low-fibre Western diet causes changes in the gut that raise the risk for early-onset colon cancer.

You must prioritize whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and limit red meat, processed meats, sugar, and unrefined grains.

Doctors say regular and consistent workouts help prevent obesity and weight gain which help prevent many kinds of cancers.

Physical activity keeps your weight and hormones under control. Exercise also helps by quickly moving cancer-causing toxins out of your body, reduces inflammation, and regulates digestion and immunity. Experts recommend moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes, five or more days per week.

Sunscreen reduces your overall ultraviolet exposure and lowers your risk of skin cancer and sun damage.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 per cent of the sun’s UVB rays. Some dermatologists advise applying two finger lengths worth of sunscreen on your face.

It is important to get protected against the Human Papilloma Virus – the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, with at least 13 million new infections reported every year. Doctors say the virus is a major risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer - a kind of head and neck cancer

The HPV vaccine protects against mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers while giving your body a safe way to build immune system awareness of some HPV strains. This means the body has an easier time clearing out those strains of the virus if a person catches them later.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting inoculated against HPV at 11–12 years old or as early as 9 years.

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