Cancer patients should have a healthy lifestyle, besides ceasing smoking, avoiding alcohol and having appropriate diet and exercise, the following matters should also be done:
-Exposure to the sun: A research report published in the American Cancer Journal in 2002 revealed that the cancer mortality in the New England region of North America was probably twice that of the southwestern United States. This is essentially due to the people in North America having less exposure to ultraviolet than people in southwestern America. Another cancer epidemiological survey of five hundred and six regions found that the incidence of cancer is inversely proportional to the amount of ultraviolet accepted. Studies showed that at least thirteen types of cancer occurrence are related to the lack of sunlight received. Breast cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer are included.
Scientific studies show that ultraviolet light can promote the formation of vitamin D, thus contributing to the absorption of calcium. Calcium is an important element to prevent cell mutations.
Cancer patients who are in the rehabilitative period should have sun exposure at least three times a week, for 10-15 minutes each time. Do not use sunglasses and sunscreen. But excessive sun exposure is not advocated, otherwise it will prompt another cancer such as melanoma.
-Adequate sleep: As previously mentioned, too little sleep can promote pro-inflammatory cytokines to generate in the body. Nature and human beings have fantastic coordination:
Going to bed with the lamb and rising with the lark. This pace of life is closely related to the secretion of hormones. Corticosteroids are secreted by the adrenal cortex, an important hormone that regulates the body’s functions and a range of metabolic activity. For those who sleep between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., there is a hormone secretion which increases at 4 a.m. and peaks at 8 a.m., then gradually reduces to the base line at midnight. Another hormone called melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, starting between 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., peaking at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. and reducing to a minimum point at noon. Melatonin is involved in the regulation of sleep, exercise, immunisation and other endocrine activities. Inadequate sleep or an irregular bedtime schedule correlates with an irregular secretion of the above hormones. It can also cause a secretion disorder which can affect body function causing disorders including the immune function.
Research has indicated that those who work on night shifts have a 5% higher risk of cancer than those who work during the day. The researches also found that melatonin secretion of night workers decreases, while melatonin can inhibit the secretion of oestrogen. Reduced melatonin secretion will cause oestrogen secretion increase. Oestrogen has been included in the list of carcinogenic factors by the American Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 2002.
Currently it is advocated that cancer patients should have at least 8-9 hours of sleep everyday, going to bed at 10 p.m. and rising at 7 a.m..