Get healthy for life (From Penarth Times)

Get healthy for life

CHANGING your lifestyle can dramatically reduce your chances of being diagnosed with cancer.

And Alun Michael MP got on his bike to raise awareness of the importance of exercise, at the launch of Reduce the Risk - a landmark campaign from Cancer Research UK.

The campaign aims to make people aware that more than half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle, according to Cancer Research UK.

Alun Michael MP said: "I wholeheartedly support the work that the charity is doing to raise awareness of the importance of lifestyle change in cancer prevention.

"Maintaining a healthy weight is an important way to help reduce your risk of cancer.

"Staying in shape doesn't need to be expensive or time-consuming - just 30 minutes, five days a week, of moderate exercise such as brisk walking, cycling, gardening or swimming will keep you healthy."

The campaign focuses on five main areas: stopping smoking, staying in shape, eating and drinking healthily, being SunSmart and taking advantage of screening.

Reduce the Risk was launched with a wide-ranging report showing that there is still confusion over what increases the risk of cancer - Britain's biggest killer.

The report, based on a survey of 4,000 people, revealed that two-thirds were unaware that being overweight or obese increases the risk of some cancers.

The same number of people (67 percent) didn't know that a diet low in fruit and vegetables could increase their chance of getting the disease.

The good news is that the message that "smoking kills" has got through to most people, and the majority also knew that sunburn increases skin cancer risk.

Over the next five years the Reduce the Risk campaign will target thousands of GP surgeries, hospitals and health promotion units with leaflets and posters on its key messages.

Information will also be available from local authority leisure centres, swimming pools and shopping centres.

Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive, Professor Alex Markham, said: "The fundamental aim of this campaign is to alert everyone to the fact that each one of us can reduce our risk of getting cancer.

"We estimate that half of all cancer cases could be prevented.