EU issues Code Against Cancer

The European Union on Monday issued its Codes Against Cancer as part of efforts to create more public awareness on modes of cancer prevention.

A statement issued by the World Health Organization and copied to the Ghana News Agency outlined the 12 code points to include: Do not smoke, Do not use any form of tobacco, Make your home smoke free, Support smoke-free policies in your workplace and Take action to be a healthy body weight.

The rest are: Be physically active in everyday life, Limit the time you spend sitting, Have a healthy diet: Eat plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits, Limit high-calorie foods such as foods high in sugar or fat, and avoid sugary drinks and avoid processed meat, limit red meat and foods high in salt.

Others are: If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention; avoid too much sun, especially for children -use sun protection, do not use sunbeds.

The code also include: In the workplace, protect yourself against cancer-causing substances by following health and safety instructions; and find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home - take action to reduce high radon levels.

It said for women: breastfeeding reduces the mother’s cancer risk - if you can, breastfeed your baby, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of certain cancers and limits the use of HRT.

According to the Code, to ensure good health for children, make sure they take part in vaccination programmes for: Hepatitis B for newborns and human papillomavirus for girls.

It also recommends taking part in organized cancer screening programmes for: bowel cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer for women.