There are several lifestyles as well as physiological factors that can increase the risk of cancer in some people. In order to reduce such a risk, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and follow healthy nutritional habits that prevent the growth of cancerous cells. There are several foods that are known to reduce the risk of cancer and also certain foods that can increase such a risk.

Foods to eat
These are foods that you must add to your daily lifestyle since they improve overall health and prevent the growth of cancer cells.

Garlic
Garlic is known to be rich in antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Garlic knobs and cloves are high in sulfur, selenium, and flavonoids. And when crushed, they produce allicin. All these properties are known to improve the ability to fight cancerous agents.

Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the best food sources where fighting cancer is concerned. The vegetable is rich in sulforaphane, a compound known to empower the body’s protective enzymes and flush out cancer-causing chemicals.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain enhanced levels of vitamin A, C, and E — all of which are known to reduce cancer risk or prevent the disease from occurring. Tomatoes also contain high amounts of lycopene — an antioxidant that can prevent heart diseases.

Carrots
Carrots are another viable food source to ward off potential cancers. They contain beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant known to reduce cancer growth and protect cell membranes from damage. Multiple studies have suggested that carrots are beneficial in fighting against cervical cancer.

Strawberries
Apart from being a juicy red fruit, strawberries are also known to have medicinal properties. They come packed with vitamin C, a known cancer-fighting agent. Studies show that smokers who consume significant amounts of vitamin C are less prone to developing cancer symptoms.

Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable with concentrated levels of zeaxanthin, lutein, and carotenoids. These properties can eliminate unstable molecules from your body, thus protecting you from mouth, stomach, and esophagus cancers.

Oats
A nutritious and tasty breakfast food, oats are a superfood that has anti-cancer properties. They have high levels of minerals, vitamins, fibers, and phytochemicals. These properties can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Rye
Rye is a healthy grain with high amounts of fiber and bioactive compounds as compared to other cereals used for bread production. The fiber in rye may help prevent breast cancer, among other existing health conditions.

Barley
Barley has several benefits. One of them is its use in the prevention of cancers. Barley grass extracts (barley greens) are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, which are known to reduce the effects of cancer in the body.

Foods to avoid
The following foods must be avoided to reduce the risk of cancer in the body.

Red meat
The consumption of red meat can make one susceptible to cancer. These meats contain haem iron, which gives them their red color. Red meat can damage cell linings in the bowel and potentially induce bowel cancer.

Alcohol
Alcohol is by far one of the most injurious substances to your health. It contains ethanol, a compound that breaks down to acetaldehyde when consumed. Acetaldehyde is a known carcinogen that can damage DNA and can prevent cells from repairing the damage. It can also orchestrate the growth of cancer cells.

Packaged and processed foods
Packaged and processed foods can put a person at an increased risk of cancer. They generally contain excessive salts, fats, and sugars. They also have added chemicals to increase their shelf life, enhance their flavors, and give them their respective colors. These factors can increase one’s risk of developing cancer, and therefore, such meals should be avoided.

Targeted therapy for cancer
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that controls the growth and multiplication of cancer cells in the body by directly targeting the concerned proteins. Imbruvica, which contains ibrutinib, is a targeted therapy drug that inhibits certain enzymes in the body and prevents the proliferation of B-cells in people with B-cell cancers.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Hence there is constant research going on to find treatment methods. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is one such method. The function of our immune system is to keep track of, raise an alarm, or attack any foreign substances that enter the body. CAR T-cell therapy is a method wherein the immune cells are genetically modified in a lab so that they can attack the cancer cells. This process is sometimes also referred to as cell-based gene therapy since it involves altering T-cells to fight cancer. It is a method that is helpful when other treatments have been ineffective.

Moreover, Neulasta is a prescription medication for people undergoing cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy. These treatments often destroy white blood cells (WBCs) in the body, making an individual vulnerable to infections. Neulasta stimulates the growth of healthy WBCs, reducing the risk of infections among cancer patients. It also helps prevent febrile neutropenia, a condition characterized by low WBC count and fever. The medication is administered subcutaneously, usually 24 hours after chemotherapy.

VENCLEXTA (Venetoclax) is a prescription medication that helps destroy the cancerous lymphocytes in blood and bone marrow. It is used to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). When used in combination with certain other medications, VENCLEXTA also helps treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in people aged 75 or older. The medication comes in the form of an oral tablet and must only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.